Betty Ann (Hanson) Hylden, 94, died June 28, 2024, at Cascade Creek Memory Care in Rochester, Minnesota. She was born February 9, 1930, in Northwood, Iowa to Torger and Gena (Holt) Hanson.
A second generation Norwegian, Betty grew up in Mahnomen and then Duluth, Minnesota, speaking Norwegian at home. She attended Concordia College for a year, after which she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps, becoming an accomplished draftsperson during the Korean War. After her discharge, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Elementary Education, the first person in her family to graduate from college. She taught second grade at Duluth public schools until she married Clifford Hylden in 1962 and moved to Silver Bay.
Her varied and avid interests included gardening, painting, reading, birdwatching, playing cards, travel and playing the piano and accordion. She especially loved living near the beauty and ruggedness of Lake Superior. She was a natural community organizer, serving as President of the Bay Area Art Club, supporting the establishment of Silver Bay’s cross country ski trail, and leading the redesign of Silver Bay’s Outer Drive. She also helped create and operate the food cooperative in Silver Bay, the first of its kind in the region. Her top priority was always her family, demonstrated in many ways, such as baking bread weekly for a large household, canning, supporting various late-night, last-minute homework projects, and attending numerous school activities. She always loved to get updates on her grandchildren and great grandchildren. In 2019 she was thrilled to be invited to join an Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C., a national program recognizing veterans.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford; daughter, Sarah Osterberg; sons, Ted Price and Lowell Hylden; and grandchildren, Blake Jones and Melanie Osterholm.
Betty is survived by her children, Carianne Maki, Barbara (Jim) Bradley, Charley Price, Nancy (Peter McLaughlin) Hylden, and Maren (Dave) Johnson; stepchildren, Clifford and Anna; grandchildren, LeAnn, Lisa, Nicole, Charley, Lindsey, Marie, Laura, Casey, Cinthia, Bradley, and Nathaniel; and fifteen great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Betty’s caregivers at Cascade Creek, Visiting Angels, and the Mayo Clinic Hospice nurses, staff and volunteers.
Late in her life she struggled with dementia but never lost her gratitude for her family or her joy in the world around her.
Graveside Committal Service with Military Honors to be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, August 23rd at Sunrise Memorial Park Cemetery in Hermantown, followed by a reception, also at Sunrise. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Silver Bay Public Library, 7 Davis Drive, Silver Bay, MN 55614.
