Betty Eloise Branham

FUNERAL SERVICES : 2PM Saturday, December 5, 2009 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids with the Reverend James Neubauer officiating.VISITATION : 4 to 7 PM Friday, December 4, 2009 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and at the church beginning at 1 PM on Saturday.INTERMENT : Hubbard Cemetery near Hubbard, MN.SURVIVORS : She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Marilyn "Pete" and her husband, Jim DeCrans of Moorhead, MN, her two sons: Cliff and wife, Marilyn Branham and Ed and wife, Peg Branham all of Park Rapids; nine grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; her brother, Robert (Margaret) White of Menahga, MN as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. BETTY ELOISE BRANHAM December 10, 1924 - December 1, 2009 Betty Eloise Branham, age 84, a long time Park Rapids area resident, peacefully went to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning, December lst, 2009 at the Eventide Nursing Home in Moorhead, MN with her loved ones at her side. Betty was born on December 10, 1924 on her parent"s homestead in Shell River Township east of Menahga, MN to Ralph and Elva (Dwire) White. It was in this same area that she grew into womanhood and attended country school. Betty"s mother suffered from poor health, so as the only daughter, Betty took over the household responsibilities and also cared for her mother as just a young girl. Grief confronted Betty early in life as she experienced the heart ache of her mother"s death when she was just 16 and also the deaths of two of her brothers shortly thereafter. On February 12, 1947, Betty was united in marriage to James Edwin Branham at the lst English Lutheran Church in Dorset, MN. This union was blessed with three children: Cliff, Ed and Marilyn. Betty devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children. She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious apple, blueberry and peach pies, her melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookies, her wonderful pickles and her fried chicken with mashed potatoes and fresh garden peas. Each summer, Betty would look forward to canning the produce raised from their garden to meet the needs of her growing family. In addition, for a number of years, Betty worked for the Badoura Nursery lifting trees each spring. In her spare time, she enjoyed doing embroidery and raising beautiful flowers and plants into colorful splendor. Betty was also active in her community. She was a long time member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids where she enjoyed being part of the quilters guild and the ladies aid. She and Jim were also active in the Menahga VFW where she was a member of the auxiliary. Betty was a charter member of the Tall Pine Riders Saddle Club where she and family enjoyed many trail rides, horse shows, square dances and the fellowship of many potluck dinners. Betty served as the Hubbard Township Fire Warden for many years. Above all, she loved to spend time with her children and precious grandchildren and great grandchildren who she loved with all her heart. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Marilyn "Pete" and her husband, Jim DeCrans of Moorhead, MN, her two sons: Cliff and wife, Marilyn Branham and Ed and wife, Peg Branham all of Park Rapids; nine grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; her brother, Robert (Margaret) White of Menahga, MN as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Betty was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: Ralph, Vernon, Charles and Jim; and her husband, James who died in 1996. Funeral services will be held 2PM Saturday, December 5, 2009 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids with the Reverend James Neubauer officiating. The organist will be Connie Shubert. Michael Poole will sing "The Lord"s Prayer". Congregational hymns will be "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" & "Just As I Am". Casketbearers will be Betty"s grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Anthony "Andy" Branham, Daniel Branham, Neil DeCrans, Jess Branham, Rick Bryant and Derek Johnson. Honorary casket bearers will be her granddaughters and granddaughters-in-law: Melissa Bryant, Aimee Johnson, Beth Branham, Christa Branham, Sarah DeCrans, Sarah Branham and Crystal Branham. Interment will be made in the Hubbard Cemetery near Hubbard, MN. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM Friday, December 4, 2009 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and at the church beginning at 1 PM on Saturday. Following the service, the St. Johns Lutheran Church will host a luncheon for all family and friends.