March 1, 1955 - October 20, 2023
Betty Jean Allabough, age 68, of Richfield, MN passed away unexpectedly at her home on October 20, 2023. Betty was born in St. Helens, Oregon on March 1, 1955 to James Ford Jr. and Mary B. Atkins.
Betty graduated from The Dalles High School in 1973 and Pacific University in 1977. She received a Bachelor of Music degree.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 4th at Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Golden Valley, MN with Rev. Richard Buller officiating. A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. with a funeral service at 11 a.m., followed by lunch.
Betty is survived by her children, Jeanne (Greg) Storlie of Lakeville, MN, Tim (Katie) Allabough of Warrenville, IL, Becky (Tim) Grosshuesch of Golden Valley, MN; six grandchildren, Kaytlyn, Emma, Henry, Elsie, Grayson, and Nate; and her former husband, Woody Allabough. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Ford Jr. and Mary B. Atkins; as well as her sister, Mary Jane Boothe.
Betty was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and her grandchildren meant the world to her. Her hobbies included playing with and reading stories to her grandchildren, cooking, baking, listening to Billy Joel and Elton John, watching Downton Abbey and other BBC British shows, and cuddling with her cat, Tinks. Her favorite place was a backyard playing with her grandchildren in a pool.
She will be interred with family at a later date in Portland, OR.
The family wishes to acknowledge with deepest appreciation the many expressions of love, concern and kindness shown to them during this time of loss.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The National MS Society (https://www.nationalmssociety.org/) and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (https://www.komen.org/).
Funeral Service
Saturday, November 4, 2023
11:00 AM
Visitation 1 hour prior
Valley Community Presbyterian Church
3100 Lilac Drive North
Golden Valley, Minnesota 55422
Betty was the kindest, sweetest person I know.
I’m so glad she was in my life even though it was for a short time.
She adored her grandchildren and family. I know she will be greatly missed by everyone she knew. Rest in peace sweet Betty,
Love you, Aunt Betty. Say “hi” to Mom and the grandparents for me.
Going to miss our meals, tv marathons, remembering our old adventures and thinking on creating new ones, Betty.
We, your family and friends, are richer because of the time we had you here.
You will be missed. See you soon, love.
Such a beautiful Godly woman. She loved her kids and grandkids fiercely. A sweet, kind, generous woman who I was fortunate to call friend. See you in Heaven dear friend
I was saddened to hear of Betty’s passing – we worked together for a couple of years, and she was always so kind and supportive. Peace and love to all the family and friends.
My condolences to Betty’s family. Seems like a hundred years since we hung at school. You were a good friend. God has opened his arms and welcomed another member of TDHS Class of ’73.
Betty, I was honored to call you Sis. You raised three wonderful children and our son was lucky enough to marry one. Heaven is a much better place with you in it and I look forward to seeing you again some day.
Your ‘brother’ Doug Storlie
Betty was someone who was always smiling. She had a kind word for everyone. I felt blessed to have had Betty in my life. She was warm, compassionate and a wonderful friend!
Cov Cent Presb was very blessed to have known Betty. She definitely touched my heart!❤️
Betty brought so much to me and our office in Williamsport. She organized my wedding shower, we shared a love for fantasia cookware (we have a bowl that she gave me that we always say “let’s use Betty’s bowl” ), I picked up funny sayings from her (family, I think you will know what the phrase ” I have the cha chas” mean) and so much more. I felt the loss of her when she picked up her garage-full of possessions from my house to move closer to her kids and I feel a tremendous sense of loss of her now. Rest in peace crazy lady. You enriched my life.
Betty was a nice person to work with. Very loving and caring. Always trying to provide the best service to the clients. She will be missed. My condolences to family and friends. <3
Sending prayers and condolences to her family during this difficult time. Never met Betty Jean but reading the above condolences messages she seems to be a beautiful person. Again sorry for your loss.
I don’t know Betty I can’t share a memory but from what I read she seemed like a good human. My heart goes out to all her families rest in peace
Betty was a recent transfer to our team at the county. She was always willing to help, she asked amazing questions, advocated for the residents we serve and was an asset to the county. She will be missed! I am so sorry to her friends and family for your loss!
She was not just my coworker but she was my friend. I will miss her.
My condolences to Betty’s family. Seems like a hundred years since we hung at school. You were a good friend. God has opened his arms and welcomed another member of TDHS Class of ’73.
I worked with Betty for a while at Hennepin County. She was a warm, kind, soft spoken person, always with a smile for everyone. Still chatted with her from time to time during Covid to check in and see how she was holding up and she always talked about her grand kids and how she felt blessed to have them in her life. Betty will be missed very much. I feel blessed to have met her and pray for her family. RIP, Betty.
To the family of Ms. Betty J. Allabough, I send my sincerest condolences. Ms. Betty will be missed. She was one of the kindest and helpful people I have ever met. It was a pleasure to have been her acquaintance at work. Rest is Paradise, Ms. B!
We always loved seeing Betty at family gatherings and were witness to just how deeply she loved all of her children and grandchildren. Our sincerest and deepest condolences to the entire family during this incredibly difficult time.
I wish to send my deepest condolences to the Family, Friends and to all at Hennepin County. We have indeed lost a beautiful Soul on this Earth. From postings I have found Betty is still amazingly touching everyone she met and gathered with. I pray her rest in Heaven above and the one wish I have is that we can all be a Betty. Kind, Compassionate and follow her lead on the love she bestowed upon all. Many prayers for healing during this hard time of loss on our Earth.
Our deepest condolences to your family, we were honored to call her a wonderful neighbor and friend. We enjoyed chatting about life and had many heartfelt conversations and she was always so kind and thoughtful to our children. It will always be Ms. Betties house next door I feel like we’ll always be looking out for her. May her memory be a blessing. With our love, Carmen, Chad, Zoe, Bettie, Ruby, Stanley and Evelyn.
I have been at a total loss for words when it comes to my dear friend Betty. We were very close. We saw each other most Fridays and spoke or texted often. She knew all my secrets and was still friends with me. When I had surgery next to my spine two years ago for melanoma, she even changed my bandages for me. I already miss her terribly.
I met Woody and Betty when I was on the pastoral search team back in the 80’s. I loved hanging out with them and their kids helping them get settled in before I left for college. We lost touch and Betty and I reconnected not to long ago on FB. Wish I knew we were both in Minnesota before I moved I would have loved to get together with her! So sorry for your loss,
I am so sad to find out about Betty passing away and my heart is broken. My 2 grandsons and I did her yard work for her over the last few years. She was a wonderful person and became a friend to me, I so enjoyed getting to know her and enjoyed our talks. She was so supportive and caring. She always left a basket of treats and water for the boys when they mowed, she always wanted to make sure they were taken care of. She would always come out and check in with me and the boys to see how we were all doing. She loved her family and grandkids, I enjoyed hearing all about them and how they were doing. She will truly be missed. We are sending our deepest condolences to her family. Judi, Alex and Orrie