Elizabeth “Betty” Bowman
Wednesday, November 5, 1924
Date of Death:
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Age:
89 years old
Visitation
Date: Sunday December 29, 2013
Time: 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Second Visitation
Date: Monday December 30, 2013
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church [ view map ]
Funeral Mass
Date: Monday December 30, 2013
Time: 10:30 am
Location: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church [ view map ]
Burial
Location: Calvary Cemetery [ view map ]
A Time Of Remembrance
There will be a time of remembrance for Betty starting at 6:00pm.
Wednesday, November 5, 1924
Date of Death:
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Age:
89 years old
Wednesday, November 5, 1924
Date of Death:
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Age:
89 years old
Elizabeth “Betty” Bowman
Betty Bowman, age 89, died peacefully at home on the farm on December 24th, 2013. Betty was the daughter of Bill and Eva (Baier) Lawler. She was born and raised on the family farm in Haverhill Township that was settled by her Irish great-grandparents in 1857. She attended Haverhill 106, a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from the last class of St. John’s High School in Rochester. Because of her incredible typing skills, she was hired as an executive secretary for the Purchasing Agent at St. Mary’s Hospital. Unbeknownst to her boss, Mr. Wolf, she was only 16 years old.
Betty met her future husband, Randall Bowman from Kansas City, MO, while living in a rooming house owned by his aunts. They married on November 19th, 1947. After spending the first 9 months of their married life in St. Louis, MO, they bought a farm across the road from the home place.
Betty was a mother figure to many and welcomed all to her home. She is known world-wide for her Betty Bowman’s buns and her molasses cookies. She enjoyed quilting, lawn-mowing and liberal politics. As a life-long Roosevelt Democrat she was absolutely thrilled with the election of Barack Obama. She was a proud member of the Mothers and Daughters Club of Haverhill Township and she will miss her monthly meetings with her friends Betty and June. She had an active social life, spending many hours with her siblings and friends at Canadian Honker and Grandma’s Kitchen.
Betty and Ran took great pride in their children and grandchildren. Betty taught, by her example, the meaning of acceptance, compassion and love for all. She lived by the words on a plaque above her doorway, “There are no strangers here, only friends we haven’t met.”
Betty is survived by her children, Mark (Sharon) of Spokane, Wa.; Mary Beth (Daniel Silverman) of Hinesburg, VT; Martha (Mark Delehanty) of Haverhill Township; Margaret (Dan York) of Madison, WI.; son-in-law, Norbert Nigon of Zumbrota, MN.; sister and best friend, Evie Cierzan; sisters-in-law Margaret Lawler and Mary B Lawler and grandchildren, Sarah (Anuj Malhotra), Luke and Colleen Bowman; Eva (Jack Cook) and Peter Silverman; Eileen, Dhanya and Ravi Delehanty; James and Lexi York; Tony and Monica Nigon, and many other relatives and world-wide friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Randall Bowman, her daughter, Jane Bowman Nigon, her siblings and in-laws, Dick Lawler, Bob and Pat Lawler, Mary Louise and Gene McCarthy, Tom Lawler and Jim Cierzan. A special thanks to her friend Judi Petersohn who helped care for her at home for the last few months. Memorials may be given to Dorothy Day House in Rochester or Working Boys Center in Quito, Ecuador.
Condolences
The family of Elizabeth “Betty” Bowman has received the following condolences.
We were so very sorry to hear of Betty's passing. What a wonderful person she was and an inspiration to all who knew her. The world needs more kind, caring, gentle, and loving people like her and her loss will be greatly felt far and wide. May her memory be for a blessing.
We were so grateful for Betty, who took the time to visit with Norton, McGovern and Lawler family members during a reunion in 2009. She had to miss the picnic, since she was hosting an event at the farm, but one of our cousins, Tony Gould, arranged for us to stop and say "Hi" to Betty. She climbed aboard the tour bus, filled with her relatives, and gave a thorough and touching history lesson about the family farms - still in operation - that have been owned by the families since the mid-1800's. We were blessed by her generous spirit, humorous stories and genuine welcome.
Our Grandmother, Josie McGovern, was a Norton, whose sister, Maimie, married a Lawler. The families have been close throughout the years. Heaven's gain is our loss. Bless you, Betty.
Margie
Bill and I send you all warm hugs and our heartfelt sympathy . You were blessed with the kind of good parents
we all strive to be. Take comfort in knowing that they are having a marvelous reunion with Jane. I was blessed to see her a couple of months ago and her sparkling eyes and cheerfulness made me feel so good. We chatted about all of you and she was happy to share about her beautiful family.
Once in awhile, there emerges a saint among us. I looked at Betty that way! Progressive, beyond her years...she accepted, embraced, and celebrated the diversity of those who came into her life. She loved everyone and showed by example. I remember being heart-broken when Janey died..I know she was too...but she smiled at me and said, "That is what you have faith for" She responded to every adversity with a positive smile, and inner strength. I loved her and cherished our yearly visits, where we shared tears and stories of one of my best friends, and her daughter. While I heard it said that Ran brought the music into the family, Betty, I believe, brought the way to love into the Bowman family. One of the most loving families I have ever met. As they say, "The fruit does not fall far from the tree" Betty was rooted in love. I will miss her laughter and gentle eyes dearly, but am happy she is in the presence of Janey and Ran with Christ wrapping his loving arms around them. Until we meet again, I will hold you in my heart, Susie....
I feel so lucky to have met Betty this fall. She was a joyful and 'spunky' lady full of stories and joy. I'm glad to have known her.
I REMBER GOING TO A WEDDING YOUR MOM AND ME WORE SAME COLOR DRESS I WILL PRAY ALL OF YOU
Dear MaryBeth & Bowman family,
So sorry for the loss of your mother Betty. She was such a kind, spunky soul. I so enjoyed her sharing the new barn for our 4oth class reunion almost 5yrs ago now. I am enjoying the vision of her celebrating Christmas in heaven with your dad and sister Jane and them welcoming her with open arms...May you find peace in your memories and know that she left a wonderful legacy thru her family.
Once upon a time, there was a magical Lady born, and her name was "Betty".
In the kingdom of the North, her soon-to-be-husband, Randall, was lucky enough to "bump" into Betty and she became Betty Bowman.
Betty and Ran raised 5 wonderful children in a castle (farm) in southern Minnesota. They developed what some might say is "a funny accent". But as we all know, it's not what we sound like that matters, it's what we do.
Betty did many kind deeds for her husband, children, grandchildren, relatives, and served her community and friends with the utmost respect and love.
As we close this story about the magical lady named "Betty", we know that she passed us on her way to heaven, with Ran and Janie awaiting. A Lady always knows when it's time to go, but this Lady was more than a Lady. She is now a Queen, and Queen Betty duties in heaven will be bun-making, cookie-creator, and keeping the yard (clouds) tidy.
Love to the Bowman family,
Mark Wynne
I always enjoyed visiting with Betty.
Her wonderful, warm will be missed by all.
May peace and comfort come to Betty's family. She was always one of my favorite people to see when I would come to Rochester. Her happiness was so infectious! Love to all of you.
Janet Otto
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Sending your family thoughts and prayers. I have heard wornderful stories from my mother (Joan Otto) about the shanigans that they had.
Dear Family,
I'm truly sorry for your loss of, Betty, your dear mother and sisters. I'm so glad that I had the chance to visit in 2011 when I was in Minnesota. It also gave me the chance to meet Mary Beth & Mark.
I've always enjoyed visiting with Betty whenever I was in Rochester. She had a great sense of humor and was generous in spirit.
I know you'll miss her but know that she is with Jesus and the others of the family.
God be with you all'!
Your cousin,
Victress "Vicki" Jenkins
All my love to the family. Betty was phenomenal and her warmth and caring will be greatly missed, but definitely lives on in her wonderful family. It's always a bittersweet loss, losing these great women, but I bet there's been a hell of a reunion in heaven :)