Funeral services for Betty Lou Rake, 79, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Todd Walsh will officiate. Interment will be at the Salem Memorial Cemetery in Lake Mills. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. To sign the guest book, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Betty died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010 at Albert Lea Medical Center after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Betty Lou Rake was born on Nov. 27, 1930, to Harry and Sarah (Rasmussen) Bolstad in Lake Mills, Iowa. She grew up in Lake Mills and graduated from Lake Mills High School. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, Mankato. Betty was the first special education teacher hired in District No. 241 and taught for many years. On June 7, 1953, she was united in marriage to Orvis Rake in Lake Mills. Betty was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Through the years, Betty had enjoyed volunteering as a room mother and boy scout leader, she was also active with the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club. Betty liked to sew and made many costumes and dresses for her daughter, Jane. She also enjoyed knitting, wallpapering and cake decorating. Betty was very interested in genealogy and did a paper in college on her family tree. Her family was very important to her. Blessed be her memory.

Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Orvis; son, David Rake of Blaine; daughter, Jane and husband Doug Edwards of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Amber, Mark, Daniel and Matthew; and brother, Roger and his wife Mavis Bolstad of Lake Mills, Iowa.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Sarah Bolstad, and her son, Mark.