To view a livestream of the service, please access https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDxEeU9kkqnOW3f7DKJhRcg

To view the flowers from Betty's service, click here: Betty Buseth Flowers

Betty Buseth, 83, longtime Velva area resident died peacefully on May 2, 2021 in a Bismarck hospital with family by her side.

Betty Jane was born on April 13, 1938 in Velva, ND to Tony and Lois (Nopp) Swedlund. She was raised and educated in Velva and graduated from Velva High School in 1956. As a young adult she was employed at the Super Value Grocery Store and Velva Journal.

Betty married Orlan Buseth on July 29, 1956 at Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva. They made their home in Seattle WA while her husband completed his military service in the U.S Navy. Following his discharge, they returned to Velva for several years. Betty was an Avon Lady in Velva for years, which suited her well because she loved to visit and drink coffee and was a successful saleswoman. They moved to Howard, SD where she worked as a bookkeeper at the Farmers Union Oil company and Orlan was the manager. They returned to Velva in 1970. Betty was employed as a cook at the school and enjoyed getting to know all of the kids.

Volunteering in her community was very important to Betty. She was proud to be the first female City Commissioner on the Velva City Council. She started the Girl Scout Program and was honored with a 35-year service award for her hard work. Other volunteer jobs included Velva Music Mothers, Women's Club, Velva Homemakers, Oak Valley Lutheran Church Council, American Legion Auxiliary, board member and volunteer for the Community Concert Association. For several years Betty and her four sisters attended the adult session of the International Music Camp at the Peace Gardens. They were known as the Sax Sisters and had a lot of funny stories about their adventures or misadventures while attending.

For years Betty decorated cakes and most everyone in the area had a birthday cake or wedding cake made by her. She was the ultimate entertainer and hosted numerous family holidays and events in her Victorian home in Velva. She was very proud of the fact that she entertained two Governors in her home. She was also a great artist, mastering rosemaling, oil painting as well as watercolor. She mastered the craft of hardanger as well.

After Orlan retired they spent their winters in Apache Junction AZ. She was involved with ceramics as well as aqua aerobics in the pool every morning. They spent their summers at Strawberry Lake, a place that was beloved by both of them. She felt blessed that she could live such a great life after retirement. She made friends wherever she went. Betty was always upbeat and had a great sense of humor. She loved telling stories about growing up on a farm with 7 other siblings.

Orlan passed away on May 4, 2017. Betty then moved to Valley View Manor Assisted Living in Velva. She felt at home there and staff and other residents treated her like family. She was happiest about not having to cook anymore!

Betty's loving family includes her daughter: Jane (Al) Christianson, Bismarck; grandchildren:  Molly (Bojan) Buzakovic of Bismarck and Kendall Christianson (Alexis Kelsch) of Pasadena CA; siblings: Mary (Jerry) Johnson of Bismarck, Jean (Bob) Miller of Anchorage AK and John (DeDe) Swedlund of Velva; sisters-in-law: Ann Swedlund and Iris Swedlund. She has numerous nieces and nephews as well.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Orlan, parents: Tony and Lois Swedlund, siblings: Paul Swedlund, Kay Obert, Tony Swedlund and Patricia Bendickson.

Celebration of the life of Betty Buseth: Friday May 7, 2021 at 11:00 am in Oak Valley Lutheran Church – Velva.  To view a livestream of the service, please access https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDxEeU9kkqnOW3f7DKJhRcg
Interment will be in the Velva Community Cemetery at a later date.
Visitation: Thursday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in Thomas Family Funeral Home – Minot
Memorials are preferred to the Oak Valley Lutheran Church – Velva, International Music Camp, Girls Scouts or Valley View Manor.