23 May Betty Dendinger
Posted at 13:41h
in Uncategorized
by staff
Betty L. Dendinger, 84, Bismarck, passed away May 18, 2024, following her battle with lung cancer. She was born to Ray and Lydia (Boger) Eslinger on March 9, 1940, in Garrison, ND. Funeral services will be on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 11:30 am at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Bismarck.
Betty graduated from Garrison High School in 1958 as Co-Valedictorian. After graduation she worked for Drey & Schwartz, Attorneys, until August of 1962 when she moved to Minot where she had accepted a legal secretary position with Pringle-Herigstad Law Firm. On May 29, 1964, Betty married George Dendinger, from Minot, ND in Minot. In 1966, Betty and George moved to Texarkana, TX where she was a secretary at Lone Star Ammunition. She received a certificate of appreciation from the Treasury Department for the U.S. Savings Bond “Liberty Parade” in 1966. In 1997, Betty and George moved to Fargo, ND where she worked for the law firm of Thompson, Anderson, Solberg, & Green while George completed his master’s degree. In 1970, they moved to Oakes, ND where she worked for Lester Trinka, Attorney, until the end of 1973. George and Betty purchased the Oakes Café in January of 1974 which she managed until February of 1977. Betty was a fashion director for Sarah Coventry for several years and co-chair for 1978 Miss Oakes pageant. In June of 1979, they bought the Garrison Dairy Queen & Café, which they owned and operated until October of 1981. In February of 1982 she became the secretary for Otter Tail Power Company and held that position until the fall of 1984 when the family moved to Rugby, ND. She was employed at Center Mutal Insurance Company until her retirement in 1995. They moved to Hillsboro, OR in 2012 for five years, before moving to Bismarck, ND in late 2017.
Betty was very active in the communities where she lived. She participated in community theater in both Garrison and Rugby. She volunteered several summers in Medora, served as president of WELCA, sang in choirs, and was a pianist and organist in both Garrison and Rugby. She was secretary of the Rugby church council, president of the Rugby Library Board, American Legion Auxiliary, Sundowners Homemakers, Rugby Faculty Wives, Prairie Belles Red Hats, and the Rugby Literary club. It was an honor for her to serve four years as treasurer of the Western ND Synodical Board of the ELCA.
George and Betty celebrated their 50th anniversary celebration in 2014, making the trip from Oregon to Rugby. They were just shy of celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on May 29, 2024. Betty was member of the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bismarck.
She loved to cook, entertain, play cards, get involved in organizations, and spend time with family and friends. She was an independent spirit! She did her best in being George’s caregiver after his stroke in 2009 until her death.
She is survived by her husband, George; son, Brad (Mona) of Redmond, OR; granddaughters Meghan and Olivia Dendinger, and Maria (Derek) Corneillie; daughter, Kim (Dion) Klein of Bismarck, ND; granddaughter Gabriela Samuda; brother-in-law, Jack (Clare) Dendinger; sister-in-law, Sharon Eslinger; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Darlene and husband, Roy; brothers Bill and his wife, Marjorie; Mel and his wife, Wanda; Erwin and his wife, Helen; Elmer and his wife, Viola; and Orin.
