Betty Grier

Betty D. (Herlick) Grier, 95 years old, was born on November 21, 1923 in Moorhead, Minnesota and died peacefully on March 9, 2019 in Eventide on 8^th in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Betty is preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 52 years, Duane M. Grier and infant daughter Elizabeth Grier; her parents: Frank Alouis Herlick and Alma Johnson Herlick; her siblings: James Herlick, Irene (Ormand) Reiersgord, Florence (Homer) Murphy, and Stanley (Darlene) Herlick.

Betty is survived by: her two daughters Michele (Orval) Lund of Winona, Minnesota, Deborah Grier of Moorhead, Minnesota; her two grandsons: John Lund (Niki Wagner) of Hudson, Wisconsin, Matthew (Vanessa) Lund of Mound, Minnesota; her four great grandchildren: Jennifer and Katherine Lund of Hudson, Wisconsin; Miles and Griffin Lund of Mound, Minnesota; her cousin John Herlick of Fargo, North Dakota; many nieces and nephews, as well as many great nieces and nephews.

When Betty was 14 years old, she lost her Mother, who was 52 years old.  Without a Mother in the family, Betty and her four siblings each acquired additional domestic responsibilities.  One of Betty’s jobs was to walk home from school each day during her lunch hour to make lunch for her family.  The Herlick kids loved to entertain their friends from the neighborhood and high school.  They would roll back the living room rug and host dances.  Her father would make the kids and their friends fried egg sandwiches, which the kids loved.   The small, two storied, white house – her childhood home – still stands today in the nice, quiet and older neighborhood of South Moorhead and continues to be well tended by the current owners today.

Betty met her high school sweetheart, Duane in 9^th grade.  Betty Herlick and Sergeant Duane Grier were married on October 9, 1943 in the parsonage which was on the corner of 7th Street and 3^rd Avenue, Moorhead, Minnesota — just south of the church.  Betty’s wedding dress, which we still have today, was hand-made by a local seamstress in Moorhead. Betty explained that day was a beautiful fall day, and they walked home to 1023 8th Avenue South in Moorhead, a home that they shared with Duane’s parents, Benjamin and Lydia Washburn Grier.  Duane’s mother made them a lovely roast duck dinner for the occasion.  Years later, this home, which was on a block acquired by Minnesota State University – Moorhead (MSUM), no longer stands.

During WWII and while Duane was deployed in Germany, Betty worked for the U.S.O.  After WWII Betty and her husband, Duane, continued to build their lives in Moorhead, Minnesota.  They were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead; participants on the panels and fairs for the 4^th of July celebrations each year at MSUM, as well as active in numerous other events held at the University.  Betty was also involved in making arrangements for the orientation of the naming of the Grier Hall building on the MSUM campus.  The Grier Hall building has been named in honor of three generations of the Grier family, including Duane Grier, who made their careers working for MSUM.  In addition, Betty and her husband were active members of the Moorhead Country Club and the Lion’s Club.

As part of her church duties, Betty, taught Sunday School and worked with the Women’s Guild of the Church.  Betty worked at the Fargo Clinic, Fargo, N.D. as a lab technician and part time during each registration at MSUM.  Betty also worked for the city in taking census and did some reading for the blind.  Betty enjoyed taking classes at MSUM, particularly the classes in Humanities, and participating in adult education classes in learning how to read and speak German.

Betty was a strong advocate for her younger daughter, who had a congenital hearing loss.  Betty, along with her husband Duane, was instrumental in working with educators in the community to help the hearing impaired, who were main-streamed into the public education system when services for the deaf and hearing impaired was minimal in the area during the 1950s and 1960s.  Betty was also an active member of the Moorhead chapter of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization).

Betty’s main desire was to be a wife, mother, and friend.  Betty was a good listener, provided profound advice and was interested in people’s conversation, their lives and adventures.  Betty, an avid cook and baker, loved to try new dishes and enjoyed entertaining family members and friends.  The Grier home was filled with love, laughter, and always with the aroma of good home cooking.  During the holiday seasons several tables were set up and filled with a feast of wonderful holiday fare and the tables were all surrounded with family and friends who participated in lively conversations.  Visitors frequently stopped by the Grier home and guests were always welcomed with a cup of coffee, tea, or lemonade and a delicious dessert that Betty made.

Betty loved to work in her flower garden and planted many interesting plants around the house, including a large bed of purple iris, Japanese lanterns, bleeding hearts, peonies, roses, pansies, mints, dusty millers, impatiens, etc.   Each summer Betty enjoyed clipping a few white lilacs from the large bush in the yard and adorning the kitchen table with the flowers in her tall, clear vase.

Betty was an accomplished seamstress and taught her daughters how to professionally make tailored clothing, as well.  She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, doing Hardanger embroidery, and refinishing antique furniture.  She was interested in watching documentaries, loved geography, and often would be found at a desk or the kitchen table studying maps and with her magnifying glass in hand.

Betty loved participating in various social events with her husband Duane.  They enjoyed dancing, golfing and traveling together, which included traveling to many of the states in the U.S., parts of Canada and overseas to Scotland and Ireland.  They loved the mountains of Arizona and spent the winter months there.

After Duane died in 1995, Betty traveled to England with her two daughters.  Betty continued to spend her winter months in Arizona and, as it was her choice, bravely drove the round trips each year solo.  She mapped out her trips to stop in interesting places along the way.  Betty also enjoyed traveling via airlines to visit her daughters when they lived in Japan, and in the Washington, D.C. and Boston metropolitan areas.

Betty loved life, her friends and family and will be sorely missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, May 30, 2019, at 2:00 P.M., at Bollolfson Chapel in Eventide in Moorhead.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the MSUM Foundation.  Checks may be written out to the MSUM Foundation and in the memo line write that it’s a memorial gift in Betty Grier’s name. The address is: MSUM Foundation, 1104 7th Ave. S., Moorhead, MN 56563