Betty Jean Rixen

Betty Jean (Condiff) Rixen January 28, 1928 – July 28, 2017                   Betty Jean (Condiff) Rixen , age 89, passed away on Friday, July 28, 2017 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN.                 Betty was born to Harold and Evelyn (Hulberg) Condiff on January 28, 1928 in Hubbard County.  She attended school in Park Rapids and graduated valedictorian of her class.  She became a medical technologist after graduating from Northwest Institute.  She worked in Jamestown, ND before returning to Park Rapids to work for Dr. Houston.  Betty married Morris Rixen in 1950, making their home, farming, and raising their family in Green Valley Township of Becker County. Betty shifted careers to homemaking, learned to drive and shouldered her part of farm and family.  Throughout her life, her connection with the Condiff family remained strong; a Christmas gift to Betty was a phone prop she used to listen to her mother and peel potatoes at the same time.  After Morris’ death in 2004, Betty became a resident of Heritage Living center in Park Rapids.  Reading, music, singing, and education were always important to Betty.  She hoped to instill in her children her love of those things, and encouraged their successes.  She herself was an astute reader who could do literary criticism on the vast collection of books she read and owned.  Proper grammar was her rule, but she loved a witty turn of phrase.  “Ain’t” was always in quotations.  It was a great loss to Betty when Parkinson’s disease took away her singing voice.  Betty was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, active in the Guild, youth education, and Bible study.                 Betty is survived by her four children: Gloria Rixen of Bemidji, MN, Gail Rixen (partner Tim Kroeger) of Nebish, MN, David (Patricia) Rixen of Cottage Grove, MN, and Carol Johnson of Nashwauk, MN; sisters: Janelle (Sam) Pike, Gloria (George) Kostuch, and brother, Gary (Judy) Condiff;  beloved granddaughters: Emily Rixen, Rachel Rixen, and Jessica Anderson as well as many nieces and nephews.                 Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 54 years, Morris; sister, Beverly Webb and husband Dick; brother, Donald Condiff and his wives Mary Jane and Tooty; and son-in-law, Gary Johnson; other in-laws who passed before Betty; include, Marie and Adolph Drevlow, Dorothy Noeske, Lawrence Nystrom, along with many aunts and uncles.                 The family wishes to thank the staff at Heritage Living Center for their care and kindness all thirteen years.                 Services will be held 11 AM, Friday,August 4, 2017 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids with the Reverend James Neubauer officiating.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.   Burial at the Greenwood Cemetery will follow the lunch hosted by the church family.