Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Rue Nelson

Elizabeth "Betty" Jean Rue Nelson was born in Ridgeway, Iowa, May 19,1925, and passed away January 31, 2018, in Albuquerque, NM. She was 92 years old. The family would like to thank the staff at Ridgeview Assisted Living, where Betty lived for nearly two years, for their wonderful nursing care and treating her with the utmost kindness and dignity.   Born to Ole and Lena Rue, Betty was the youngest of 7 children. An avid basketball player in her youth, she also studied piano and voice. She and 2 other girls had a trio and became quite well known for their group, often singing at weddings and other occasions. In later years they would get together and revive their old tunes.  During her high school years, at a summer bible camp, Betty met Joe Nelson, the love of her life. He was from Lake Mills, Iowa, a town 100 miles from Ridgeway. They kept in touch and when Betty went to St. Olaf, Joe transferred there from Augustana College so he could be near her. They married in 1948. Betty was fond of saying "Joe chased me for 8 years until I finally caught him."  Betty was a registered nurse, having completed the 5-year nursing course at St. Olaf with an internship at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis. In fact, the 14 in her graduating class kept in touch for 60 years via a round robin letter. In 1975, Betty earned a Master's Degree from Texas Women's University and taught nursing at El Centro College in Dallas for many years.