Elizabeth “Betsy” Lynne Dablow, age 91 of Cambridge, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, October 14, 2016.
Betsy Dablow was born in Fairmont, Minnesota on August 26, 1925 to Calvin Henry Gould and Harriet Phillips Gould. She graduated from Fairmont High School, and then attended the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Campus. She met her husband, John, while studying at the University of Minnesota. John and Betsy married on September 3, 1949 at the First Congregational Church in Fairmont, Minnesota.
The Dablow’s came to the Cambridge area just after completing their degrees at the University of Minnesota in 1949, John with a Juris Doctorate and Betsy with a Master’s in Educational Psychology. In 1950, John was called back in to the Navy JAG Corp is Naples, Italy until 1953. Betsy was very active in the Girl Scout Council of Minneapolis, and brought her passion for the Girl Scouts to Naples, Italy starting the first Girl Scout Troop for military families. When she returned to Cambridge, she continued as a Girl Scout Troop leader for many years. John and Betsy were part of a small group interested in starting a new protestant church in Cambridge. The Community Methodist Church – (later the First United Methodist Church, and currently Common Ground United Methodist Community) – held its first church service in Cambridge in 1955. Betsy was an avid golfer, and won numerous club championships throughout the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s. During their years together in Cambridge, John served as Isanti County Attorney (22 years), and 10th District Court Judge (10 years.)
In 1969, she opened The Village Greene on main street in Cambridge, and for the next 10 years it thrived as a unique women’s apparel store and gift shop. John and Betsy Dablow retired to Green Valley, Arizona in the mid 1980’s when John took a medical retirement from the 10th Judicial District Court. They enjoyed many years together in Green Valley where John passed away in January, 1996. During those years, Betsy became an accomplished sculptor with many of her pieces exhibited locally. She was an active docent at the Tucson Museum of Modern Art, and spent many weeks during the school year offering lectures on art to grade school students throughout the Tucson area.
Elizabeth Dablow was a lifelong member of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star (Cambridge and Green Valley, Arizona Chapters), and served as its Grand Ester for the State of Minnesota in 1963. She was also a member of the Legion Auxiliary (Cambridge and Green Valley, Arizona.) With their local group of cohorts, they loved their years in The Turtles.
Betsy is survived by her sister Helen (Marnie) Thompson (Jim) of Green Valley, Arizona; her son John F. III “Jay” (Kim) of Huntington Beach, California, granddaughter Lindsay (Matt) Richards, great-grandchildren, Cory and Garrett, grandson, Jason (Leysa); son Tom (Julie), Salem, Oregon, granddaughter, Amy (Dennis), great-granddaughter, Kayleigh, granddaugther, Jennifer (Beau), grandson, Zachary (Melissa), great-grandchildren, Dylan, Avery, and Isaac; son Doug (Kim) of Cambridge, Minnesota; and her daughter, Lynne, Avon, Minnesota. Betsy and John’s extended family meant the world to them and they are survived by a most devoted group of nieces and nephews.
Betsy was proceeded in death by her beloved husband John. Also, proceeded in death by brothers Calvin “Cal” (Lucy) Gould, Charles “Chuck” (Ginny) Gould and nephew Calvin “Cal” H. Gould III (Peggy); close friends, Dottie Christianson, Aldrich and Betty Jones, Jane Hedlin, and Lois Thompson.
Internment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis. Private service.
A celebration of life will be announced in the future.