Betty Jean Gillson, 90, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, March 27, 2017, at Comforcare Good Samaritan Society in Austin.

Betty was born in Mason City, Iowa, to Ernest and Ella (Gerdes) Nagel. Her family moved to Austin when she was 13. She attended Austin High School. On Oct. 2, 1945, she married her childhood sweetheart and friend, Ray Gillson, when he returned stateside in the U. S. Navy in World War II. They were married for 64 years until his death in 2009.

Betty was talented in many areas and held a variety of jobs. She worked in the Hormel office during the World War II years, as a substitute business teacher at the “VoTech,” as a legal secretary to local judges, as the church secretary, as a paraprofessional at Banfield School, as a tax preparer, and as a professional seamstress, tailor, and upholsterer.

She was a Sunday School teacher and held many offices in her church, Grace Baptist of Austin. For enjoyment, Betty belonged to Austin Garden Club and several quilt and sewing clubs. She and her sister were also active at the Mower County Fair where she won many blue and champion ribbons.

Betty’s smile, laughter and relentless optimism were the characteristics that made everyone love her. Her deep and abiding faith in her Heavenly Father and her Lord and Savior was evident to all.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Blaine) Arneson of Austin; her son, Ric (Mary) Gillson of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; her grandson, John (Cassie) Gillson; her granddaughters, Stacie (Dave) Beecham, Angie  (Mike) Schulke, Laura (Joe) Lofgren, and Emily (Derek) Jerikovsky; nine great-grandchildren, Rochne, Alexis, Luke, Britta, Ian, Griffen, Hannah, Julian, and Ginny; her sister, Phyllis (Gaylen) Lastine, of Austin; her sister-in-law, Lois (Frank) Felty of Coon Rapids; her brother-in-law, Howard Just, of Inman, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her parents; and her brother, Robert Nagel.

The family thanks the staff at Our House Memory Care, Comforcare, Pastor Devin Larsen and Sacred Heart Daycare for their loving care of our Betty.

Her wide smile, her infectious laughter, her spiritual wisdom, and her sunny personality will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, at Grace Baptist Church with Pastor Devin Larsen officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday for one hour before the service.

Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.