Betty Jean Halvorson, 84, Northbrook, IL, formerly of Minot, died Thursday, April 23, 2015 at Covenant Village Brandel Center in Northbrook.

Betty was born September 12, 1930 in Underwood, North Dakota, the daughter of Rev. Emanuel and Katherine (Eslinger) Gackle. She was raised in South Dakota, Colorado, North Dakota, and Nebraska, graduating from High School in Crete, NE. in 1948. After attending Doane College in Crete for two years, she matriculated to Washington University School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO., for three years. She was selected by students and faculty as the Ideal Nurse at her graduation in 1953. She later received a master\'s degree in Education from North Dakota State University in Fargo and a master\'s degree in Nursing from the University of Mary in Bismarck.

Betty was united in marriage to Marold Halvorson on July 12, 1956 at Bismarck. They made their home in Bismarck where she served as Director of Nursing at a Bismarck Hospital before moving to Minot, where she taught at Trinity School of Nursing and became the Director of Nursing for ten years. She also served as the Director of Pediatrics program at the hospital.

Betty taught at Minot State University in the Nursing program from 1980 until retiring in 1999. Her husband Marold died November 24, 2001. In 2011, Betty moved to Northbrook, IL to be nearer her family.

Betty was a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Minot. She also was a member of the Nightingale Honor Society and Sigma Theta Tau International Sorority, and a former member of the North Dakota State Nursing Association for which she served as President of the Board for four years. In addition, she was a former member of the ND National League for Nursing. She was adept at the piano, hand crafts, enjoyed knitting and embroidery for her family and friends. She was an avid gardener, often sharing her produce with her neighbors.

Her loving family includes , sister, Charlotte Thiemecke-Floyd, Northbrook, IL; brother, Hugh (Corrina) Gackle, Grays Lake, IL; brother-in-law, Charles Wussow, Black River Falls, WI; sister-in-law, Sharon (Ray) Schock, Bismarck, ND; niece Jane Gackle, nephews Steven and Timothy (Heather) Gackle, of Illinois, and grand niece and nephew, Devin Ann and Dalton Gackle.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Marold, and sister Virginia Gackle Wussow.

Visitation : Monday, May 11, 2015 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Nightingale Service : Monday, May 11th at 4:00p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Private Graveside service: Almont Cemetery, Almont, ND.

Memorials are preferred to Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Minot, or to a pet shelter charity of your choice.