Betty’s mother, Helen Jackson

Betty’s father, Henry Boe

Betty through the Years

Betty with Uncle John Jackson, 1923

Betty and Marion, ca. 1926

Jorgen Boe and his grandchildren (Betty is second from left), ca. 1936

ca. mid 1930s

ca. 1940

ca. 1940

In Souix Falls, SD

In Minnesota

With sisters Marion and Carol

With sisters Marion and Carol, 1988

Dear Betty,

Very best wishes for a Happy 90th birthday. When I was a child I was sometimes miscalled Betty by older people. I always felt so proud that someone saw a resemblance.

Thank you for inviting me to your wedding. I think I was about eleven and felt very important to be included in that event.

Love, Carol

Working in Chicago

1950s

With Edith Boe and Marion, 1960s

At the Regenstein Library

In 1987

In Arizona, 1990s

With Marion in Kennebec, SD

60th anniversary party, 2003

Mother’s Day, 2011

Mother’s Day, 2011

Betty and Bruce

Betty and Bruce, WWII

Betty and Bruce, 1950s

Betty, Bruce, and Marion, 1960s

Betty and Bruce at The Point in Chicago, 1983

Dancing at Nick and Diane’s wedding, 1984

Betty and Bruce, Colorado, 1986

Betty and Bruce, 1987

Betty and Bruce,1990s

Betty and Bruce in Arizona, 2001

Betty and Bruce in Kennebec, SD, 2004

Celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, 2003

With daughters-in-law, Jane, Mitzi, and Diane,2003

With grandchildren, Peter, Jennie, Matt, and Josh, 2003

With sons, Dave, Chris, and Nick, 2003

Betty’s Sons

The young family, with Dave and Chris, 1952

With Chris, 1952

With Chris, 1952

Betty and Nick, 1954

Betty’s sons, Nick, Dave, and Chris

“Mostly Milo” : with Nick, Chris, and Dave in South Dakota, 1960s

With Dave, Nick, and Chris in South Dakota milo field, 1960s

Betty and Nick, 1968

Betty and Dave, 1968

With Dave, Chris, and Nick, 1968

Chris and Mitzi’s wedding, 1978

With Nick at Chris’ wedding, 1978

With Edith Boe, Nick, Bruce, and Dave, 1978

At Dave and Lisa’s wedding, 1981

Happy Birthday Betty-

Congratulations on your 90th birthday.  I think of you often, especially when I am on Lake Shore Drive, rolling past Hampton House on my way to see my father on the south side.  Here is what I remember about you--your ability to mix elegance with thrift, your dry humor, your Scandinavian resilience. I remember your excellent Siamese cat, following in your wake,  your grace, your compassion, and your ability to silence ineptitude with a single glance.  Most of all, I remember your kindness to me.  It was my pleasure to know you, those  years ago, and to call you mother-in-law. That was your gift to me.  I hope the gift of your birthday is extra special.  You deserve it. Thank you for being all that you are. 

Warmly, Lisa

At Nick and Diane’s Wedding, 1984

Dave and Jane’s wedding, 1990

Dave and Jane’s wedding, 1990

Dave and Jane’s wedding, 1990

With Nick, Chris, and Dave in Chicago, 2010

Betty and Nick, Mother’s Day, 2010

Betty, Diane, and BettyJean Pyle, 2010

Betty and Nick, Mother’s Day, 2011

Betty and Diane, 2011

Betty and Nick

Grandmothering is a luxury of life

With grandson, Matt, 1980

Giving Matt his first haircut, 1981

With granddaughter, Jennie, 1983

With grandchildren, Josh, Matt, and Jennie, 1983

With grandson, Matt, 1983

With family at The Point, Chicago, 1983

At The Point, Chicago, 1983

With grandson, Peter, 1988

With grandson, Peter, 1988

With sons and grandchildren in Colorado, 1988

With sons and their families in Colorado, 1988

Reading with Peter, 1990

With grandsons, Peter and Josh, 1996

“Sorry I can’t be there to celebrate your 90th with you, but you’ll be in my thoughts here in Japan!” Love, Josh

At Granddaughter, Beth’s, Wedding

At great-granddaughter, Caitlyn’s, baptism

With some of Dave’s children and grandchildren, Emily, Caitlyn, Beth, 2006

Betty with Dave’s granddaughter, Caitlyn, 2006

With Dave and his granddaughter, Claire, 2008

Betty with Nick and Peter, 2011

Betty with Diane and Peter, 2011

World Traveler

Paris, 1949

France, 1959

Norway, 1959

Norway, 1959

England, 1959

With Bruce and Edith Boe, Scotland, 1959

In Portugal, 1960s

In Portugal, 1960s

In Portugal, 1960s

In Israel, 1985

With Twyla Boe and Marion Miller, Colorado, 1988

With niece, Beth Parker, and cousin, Jean Jackson, in Colorado, 1988

Dear Betty-

Sounds like you will be having a wonderful birthday - I send you love and birthday confetti (imaginary - I hate those cards that explode all over). Have a fun-filled day and I will talk to you soon.

Jean

On horseback in Colorado, 1988

With Chris in Rome, 2007

With Nick at San Gimignano, Italy, 2007

With Nick at San Gimignano, Italy, 2007

In Italy with Nick and Dave, 2007

Tuscany, 2007

Tuscany, 2007

Family Gatherings

With Marion and Ann Miller, ca. 1958

With Marion, Bruce, and Edith, 1960s

“I had so many great dinners at this table .” Ann Martinez MacDougal

Dear Betty,

I have always admired you – your beauty and elegance, your charm and wit, your intelligence and highly-informed conversation. You have been a role model for me in so many ways. I have tried to emulate your fashion sense, your organization, your seamstress’ skills, your creativity, and your fine cooking.

Once, when I was a teenager, I said that my mom had told me you used to play Blue Moon on the piano. You scoffed. You said, “Oh that was long ago. I don’t remember it now.” But you have always met a challenge with determination and style. A little later that afternoon, you called me upstairs to the living room. Without a word, you sat down at the piano, and played, and sang, Blue Moon, with perfection.

Thank you. And Happy Birthday to you. We will see you soon.

Love, Ann

The Boe sisters and their families in Colorado, 1988

Having a picnic with Bruce and Nick

60th Anniversary Dinner, Chicago, 2003

60th Anniversary Dinner, Chicago, 2003

With extended family at Marion’s funeral in Kennebec, SD, 2004

Family members at breakfast in Presho, SD, 2004

With Jane and Mitzi, 2004

At dinner with Dorothy Cole

At great-niece Kerin Martinez’s wedding, 2009

At Kerin Martinez’s wedding, 2009

With nieces Anne, Louise, and Sandy and sister Carol, 2009

Family breakfast in Austin, TX, 2009

Family breakfast in Austin, TX, 2009

With Matt and Mitzi in Chicago, 2010

With Nick, Diane, and Jane in Chicago, 2010

With daughter-in-law, Jane, 2010

With nephew, Jonathan Cole, 2010

Betty,

Wishing you a very happy birthday on behalf of my mom, my sister and me!

Jonathan

At Nick and Diane’s with Doris and Lloyd Heroff, Easter, 2012

With sister, Carol Parker, and cousin, Jean Jackson, 2010

“Betty is a treasured member here. She is wise and shares her wisdom judiciously, with a rare combination of utter frankness and genuine respect. She is unfailingly constructive in times of conflict, and delightfully engaged in times of celebration and fun. She recently told me that her favorite day in our church life is worship on Thanksgiving Sunday, which is a kind benign pandemonium involving children, canned goods, cash offerings, and music resulting in a huge offering annually for St. Martin de Porres women's and children's shelter. Her concern for issues of social justice is sophisticated, more nuanced and more deeply committed than many of her peers.”

Rev. Susan JohnsonHyde Park Union Church

CONGRATULATIONS,BETTY!

Still more to come…