Betty Hedstrom

The memorial service for Betty Hedstrom, age 81, of Wadena, will be held at 3:00p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Nate Loer presiding. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with the Schuller Family Funeral Homes in Wadena. Betty died peacefully at her home in Wadena on December 24th, 2014. She was 81 years of age and a long time resident of Wadena and Ottertail Lake. Betty was born on January 27, 1933, in Madelia, MN. She graduated from Truman High School in 1950 and attended St. Olaf College for a year before transferring to the University of Minnesota where she received her Bachelors of Arts degree in English. After graduating, she began her teaching career at Wadena, where she met and married her husband, Robert Hedstrom. She stayed at home and raised their three girls. She loved to plan craft projects throughout the year and used the family ping pong table as craft headquarters. She loved to cook and try new recipes and treats on her family and friends. She loved Ottertail Lake and being at the cottage, where she would spend most of her time pulling children on water skis and in later years fishing with her grandsons and telling them “Ricky Raccoon” stories of which she made up every night. She returned to teaching and was a long time English teacher at the Eagle Valley High School. She was very active as a Speech & Knowledge Bowl Coach. Upon retiring, Betty loved to travel and was a chaperone for the Eagle Valley trips to Europe. She loved going to New York with her daughter Stephanie and friends to see Broadway shows, as well as make monthly trips to Minneapolis. She was a founding member of Madhatter’s Community Theatre. She was a vital part of starting and sustaining Camp Madhatter or the Mad Caps for many years. She was very passionate about bringing theatre, arts, and music to the Wadena Community. She was active with the Wadena Concert Association. Betty loved people and was a member of the 20th Century Club, Women’s Bridge Club and Couple’s Bridge Club, one of the longest running Bridge Clubs in Wadena. Betty was a voracious reader and loved crossword puzzles. She embraced all of her physical illnesses with grace and dignity and never lost her sense of humor. She is preceded in death by her mother and her father, Alta Larson and Edwin Wojahn. She is survived by her stepfather Lester Larson, her loving husband Bob, her three daughters, Robin, Stephanie and Michele (Kim), and two grandsons, Alex and Nolan. She touched and reached so many people with her teaching and her love of life. She will be missed by many friends. The family suggests memorials go to Camp Madhatter, PO Box 127, Wadena, MN. 56482 (info@madhattersinc.org)

Betty Hedstrom

January 27, 1933 - December 24, 2014