In Memory

Betty Louise Sewell

IN MEMORY OF BETTY SEWELL by Fran Larkin

Betty passed away on November 11, 2022 of natural causes mainly related to her long term cardiovascular and respiratory complications at the age of 77.

She was the daughter of Hilton and Ellen Sewell and mostly grew up in Bloomington, MN.

Her sister Sandee(partner John) and brother Jerry(wife Sue) preceded her. Betty looked forward to Sandee's family pool parties and their daily mall walking and socialization at the Eden Prairie mall. Betty attended many Christmas parties at Jerry and Sues' home.  When they moved to Las Vegas after Jerry retired Betty had “extra” motivation to visit him in the desert gambling paradise. Betty's remaining sibling, brother Cliff (partner Rose), moved to Florida about a year after Fran and Betty made the big move in 2013.  Betty went to many dinners cooked by Cliff(excellent cook) at Cliff's home in MN. In Florida Betty had frequent long in depth phone conversations with Cliff as they were very close. Betty's nephew Aaron(wife Shelley) and their children still live in MN.  Betty's must do activities included the holiday and Halloween gatherings at their home.  Aaron spent a lot of quality time with Betty as a child and developed a strong lifelong bond with her.

Betty is survived by two extremely close childhood friends, Barb and Marlyna.   Marlyna instilled in Betty a knowledge of Chinese traditions.  Betty's appetite was triggered every year when Marlyna invited us to the annual Chinese New Year's party at David Fong's in MN.

Betty met Fran in 1980 at PWP (parents without partners) dance in MN.  Her more adventurous sister, Sandee, had brought her there even though neither were parents.  The dance was ok but Betty put a spell on Fran that she didn't even know she possessed.  The spell has lasted to this day, almost 43 years. Even though Betty is now ashes, her unassuming power continues its hold on Fran.

Betty began a very close relationship with Fran's daughter, Kerri, starting when Kerri was in grade school. Over the years they consoled and aided each other through many difficult times.  Betty made many visits to Ohio with Fran to visit her family.

Although Betty never had children of her own she was very close to Aaron(parents Cliff and Barb) and Kerri(Fran) from their childhood days to now.  As a result she had an avid interest in the activities and achievements of their children.  She loved seeing them and talking to them on the phone and always remembered their birthdays and other special occasions

Betty retired from Northwest Airlines after 43 years of continuous service in 2006.  Her years-based seniority provided years of free flight benefits.  When Fran worked worked in Houston for 7 years Betty would fly to TX or Fran would fly up to MN almost every week.  Ninety percent of the time it was first class!  While working at Northwest Betty made many friends.  Three of them still living in MN (Pat, Barb, and Sonja) communicated regularly with Betty throughout her life.

Although Betty suffered from seasickness, when she met Fran she learned and enjoyed fishing.  Over the years she reeled in numerous walleyes from Mille Lacs lake and Pelican lake in central MN.  Leeches and minnows were fine bait but please keep the worms at a distance.  She enjoyed the many visits with Fran's mother who fried up the walleyes the way Betty liked them. In the spring and early summer Betty mastered shore fishing for sunfish in Medicine lake and Hyland lake in the suburbs of Minneapolis.  She would help catch and clean 20 or 30 and take them home for a delicious fried fish dinner.

Most people have empathy for others but Betty had it magnified.  She was unable to watch the TV segments showing injured and sad looking animals. This addictive empathy continued even through all her physical struggles later in life.  A recurrence of breast cancer with a double mastectomy; a diagnosis of macular degeneration leading to 9 years of bi-monthly eye shots; the worst fractured wrist ever seen by her orthopedic surgeon; and much more.  Her final 3 years were spent depending on an ever increasing need of oxygen from her oxygen machines caused by a  buffet of heart and respiratory complications.  In her last days in the hospital and rehab other patients and sometimes even staff sensed that this person was extremely nice and somebody they could open up to.

Betty, with her soft, amiable, never-a-threat persona, will be dearly missed. With my love forever Fran







agape