Betty Sabinish, 1924-2016

Published 9:38 am Thursday, January 28, 2016

Funeral services for Betty Jean Sabinish of Albert Lea will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bridge Community Baptist Church South, formerly First Baptist Church, on Clark St. The Rev. Clayton Balsley will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Clarks Grove Cemetery.

Betty died on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, at St John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea. She was 91.

Betty Sabinish, 1924-2016

Betty Sabinish, 1924-2016

Betty was born March 9, 1924, the daughter of Lauritz P. and Emma (Jacobson) Carlsen. She was born on the family farm just south of Clarks Grove Golf Course. She attended District 23 public school and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1943. On Sept. 15, 1946, she was united in marriage to Richard Sabinish Sr. at First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove. Together they made their home in Freeborn County. Betty was an active member of  First Baptist Church in Albert Lea and had been employed at several area employers, always improving her position including, Ma’s Cafe, Bachtle Bakery, Canton Cafe, Endres Tools, Aragon Cafe and Bar, Steiler’s Cafe, Wilson & Co., Queens Products, Standard Truck Stop, Good Samaritan of Albert Lea, Perkins, Cornick’s Nursing Home and Naeve Hospital. Most of her jobs involved waitressing or cooking.

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Betty was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Twin Lakes Senior Center, Cancer Support Group and Home Extension in her early years. She participated in the Freeborn County Relay For Life and was a 40 plus years cancer survivor. She volunteered at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea, The Salvation Army Food Pantry for 14 years and for over 20 years she rang bells for The Salvation Army. Betty really enjoyed the many hours she spent sitting next to the red kettle. She enjoyed feeding people, going out to eat with family and friends, crocheting afghans, bingo, cards, cooking and time spent with family and grandkids.

Betty is survived by her children Jean Blazek of Burnsville, Richard Sabinish Jr. and David and his wife, Kathy Sabinish; and daughter-in-law, Carolyn (Rice) Sabinish, all of Albert Lea. She had five grandchildren, Natalie (Matthew) Anderson, Ryan Sabinish, Andrew Sabinish, Alison Sabinish Hertges and Derek Sabinish (Bridget Haugh). She was blessed with great-grandchildren Ben, Sam and Mia Anderson, Ryleigh and Stellah Sabinish and Jaxson Hertges. Also surviving are three sisters-in-law, Evelyn Carlson and JoAnn Carlsen of Albert Lea and Josephine Dent of Renton, Washington, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard in 1995, son- in-law Richard Blazek and brothers Ronald Carlson and Darrell Carlsen.

Her family would like to thank the staff at St. John Lutheran Community for their kind and gentle care, the Rev. Clayton Balsley and members of Bridge Community Church and The Salvation Army for all of the love and attention they gave her.

Memorials are preferred to Bridge Community Church or The Salvation Army Food Pantry of Albert Lea.