- "Betty" ~ (nee: Freeman) Age 76, of St. Paul
Betty died unexpectedly on September 26, 2013 at Regions Hospital of complications from heart surgery.
Betty and Bob were married in Las Vegas on July 28, 1976. They love to travel to Las Vegas and to visit friends and family around the country. Betty touched many lives in her 40 years as an elementary school teacher in St. Paul and through her work in her church and with the Franciscan Brothers of Peace and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Betty enjoyed crafts of all kinds and introduced many nieces, nephews and friends to the world of crafts and sewing. Betty was also a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. She was also a member of Postulant Class of '54.
She was preceded in death by beloved husband Robert, parents Charles and Bernice, siblings Charles, Getrude Mary, Patricia, Mary Kathleen, John and Joanne.
Survived by sisters-in-law Carol Freeman and Irene Pruzan. Nieces and nephews: Sue Lamotte (John Polzin), Michelle Giguere (Tim), Sheila Heuer (Kevin), Jane LaMotte, Dan LaMotte (Stephanie), Bob Freeman, Tim Freeman (Kathy), Patrick Freeman (Barb), Doug Freeman (Laurie), Brian Freeman (Pam), Pam Foster (Rich), Tom Freeman (Beth), Karen Rodriguez, Gretchen Flynn (Brian), Heidi Franke (Matt).
Great Nieces and Nephews: Tim, Molly, Danny Quinn, Andy, Kenny, Kimberly and Ali Freeman, Michael, Molly, Patrick Flynn, Emma, Rebecca, Charlie Franke, Jackson, Kristin Foster, Tucker, Owen, Gavin, Finn Freeman, Jackson, Gabby LaMotte and many other great and great-great nieces and nephews. Also, survived by special Grandson, Tommy Polzin. Betty was a special friend of the Franciscan Brothers of Peace and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 am Monday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1801 LaCrosse Ave., St. Paul, visitation at church 9:30 to 10:30 Monday September 30th. Burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred. Arr. Chapel Funeral Providers, 651-224-8080.
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| Notes |
- Became a nun, professed March 9, 1957
Final vows August 6 1962 sister of St. Joseph of Carondalet
SSN: 469-38-0915
Worked as an elementary school teacher in the St. Paul Public Schools until retirement June 16, 1997 after 30 years of service.
Christen: July 4, 1937 in Franklin, Renville Co., Minnesota in Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Presented by Brian Freeman at Betty's one year memorial:
The Life of Betty Leedom
Betty was born June 22, 1937, the last surviving and middle child of 7 siblings:
Charles Robert 73
Gertrude Mary 0 Stillborn in 1934
Patricia Ann 41
Elizabeth Jane 76
Mary Kathleen 1
John McDonough 64
Margaret Joanne 66
Betty and family grew up in Franklin, MN near the Lower Sioux Indian Reservation in Morton, MN. This was the 3rd generation of Freemans living in Franklin.
Her grandfather, Charles Etson Freeman, owned a firm called Poss & Freeman starting in 1909 as a partnership. By 1915 they split the business and named it “Freeman Furniture, Lumber, and Undertaking”, which tells you what he did. Charles E. was a very prominent person in Franklin and married to Kathryn Elizabeth Brown “Katy” for 51 years. Charles E. kept the store until 1950, a year before he died, at the age of 81. To date, he has over 109 descendants.
Of his 8 children, Charles Lyle Freeman became Betty’s Father and married Bernice Hart, or “Bee.” As many know, Bee is our link to Native American ancestry. She was enrolled at White Earth, the same as Betty. Bee died at the age of 84 and Charles L. at 51.
At about 19 years old, Betty took her vows at ST. Joseph of Corondalet, becoming a nun. As many do when they enter the church, they will choose a name they will be called while they serve god.
Betty cared so deeply for her younger sister who died at the age of one, she took her name and was known as Sister Mary Kathleen Freeman. While in the convent, Sister Mary Kathleen worked towards and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Saint Catherine on July 21st, 1966.
Betty stayed in the convent and followed her vows 10 years, until she asked to be released of her vows in 1967, about a month after I was born. I found out only in the last 10 years that she was my God Mother.
At almost the same time, Betty was offered a job with the St. Paul School System teaching 1st grade students at Riverview Elementary School. Nine years later, she married Robert Leedom in Las Vegas, on July 28th, 1976.
Betty continued to work for the St. Paul school system as an elementary teacher until June 16th, 1997 after 30 years of service.
Betty also remained loyal to Bob as his wife for 20 years until he passed on Jun 28, 1996 at the age of 72. They loved each other and supported each other in marriage and life.
Betty remained highly active in the church since she was a nun. She had close ties to her aunt, Sister Gurtrude. Gurtrude spent most of her 88 years serving the church as a nun.
Betty’s interests outside of the church included her love for children. Many of us here have worn clothing as toddlers that Betty made just for each of us. She has taken us into her home many times as children and adults just because she cared for us. She cared deeply for most of her family, though she never had any kids of her own. This is one of her biggest legacies.
She also had a love for crafts. Those of you who saw her home (especially the basement) have seen that. She loved to make clothing, dolls, cards, beading, and many other things for other people.
She enjoyed working on the family tree and was my first source of information when I started getting into genealogy. Since then we now have information on over 50,000 relatives.
Betty was also interested in her Native American heritage. Though it was many generations ago now, we come from a native woman given the white name of Marguerite Racine. Her Indian name was O-Ge-mau-gee-Shi-go-Qua or Queen of The Skies. She was married to a French Canadian Bazile Beaulieu, a highly documented family.
Betty attended occasional pow wows with me and some drum practices for a while. About 15 years ago she asked the same person that did the pipe ceremony for Pam and me at our wedding, to perform a naming ceremony for her. She had always wanted an Indian name. Unfortunately, that never happened.
Though we come from an Ojibwe heritage, I myself have learned and follow the Lakota/Dakota ways.
In the Dakota way, traditionally a person has 4 names through out their life. They are given a name at birth, and then another when becoming an adult. Later in life it is common to have another name that is used. Finally, in death a name is given to the person for the spirits to use in the after life.
When she was born, Betty’s given name was Elizabeth Jane. When she joined the convent she took the name of Sister Mary Kathleen. After leaving the convent her commonly used name was Betty.
Since Betty was never able to receive the Indian name she wanted, I have decided to give her an Indian name to take with her to the spirit world.
I hereby give her the name of
Koskala Awankiciyanka
In Lakota, this means: She who looks after the young.
Finally, I want to sing a memorial song in her honor. The tradition is to allow 1 year to mourn the loss of a loved one. At the end of a year a memorial is held to honor that person and then release their spirit. There should be no more mourning after our memorial today, for Betty.
The song I am about to sing says in Lakota:
Where have you gone?
Your relatives are crying, looking for you.
Tuwe sita ku
Tokaia iyahay, Tokia iyahay
Mitakuye Koyo
Cayio onikeylepelo
Cayi a u wey
Cayi a u wey
Oka tika loyo
Thank you.
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1937 - 2013 (76 years)
