Betty Coleman, 80

Elizabeth “Betty” Jane Coleman, 80, died Sunday, December 2, 2012 at her home in Alexandria.

Elizabeth was born June 2, 1932 in Cambridge to James and Rebecca (Blass) Coleman. She attended Springvale Baptist Church as a child. She grew up on her parents’ farm near Springvale. Betty graduated from Cambridge High School in 1950. She attended Teachers College in St. Cloud and earned an elementary teaching degree. Betty started her teaching career in Deer Creek and went on to teach in Duluth, Glenwood and Spring Lake Park, spanning 23 years.

Her experience in teaching and ministry included running a home for troubled people, working as a teacher and director of the Title 1 program at the Minnesota State Reformatory for men in St. Cloud, working with a Christian counseling and discipleship ministry, co-founding a Christian School in St. Cloud and serving as administrator, teacher, co-founder and director of The Regeneration Center since 1982.

In 1982, Betty founded the Regeneration Center in Rice. She founded the center on her vision of a home where lives could be regenerated by Christ’s healing touch. The center in Rice continued operating until 1986. The Regeneration Center moved in 1987 and found its home in Siren, Wisconsin. The center also became the sponsoring organization for Kinship, an adult-child mentoring program. Its goal was to help people become God’s love “with skin on” to single-parent children.

In 1995, Betty and the Regeneration Center moved to Alexandria. The Regeneration Center is currently active in Biblical training and discipleship in the Alexandria area and has worked with local churches and other ministries to bring Freedom in Christ seminars to the Lakes Area. Betty has been instrumental in the center until the very end, acting as vice-president.

Betty also was a founding board member of One Heart Ministries and was given an Honor Blanket, the highest award given by the Lakota people and the Coharie Native Americans.

Betty enjoyed going for coffee and lunches, spending time in the garden planting vegetables and flowers. She also had a deep love for dogs and being involved in people’s lives.

She is survived by her uncle, Thomas (Elaine) Coleman of Cambridge and her numerous friends in Christ, whom she met throughout her ministry in the Regeneration Center.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, James and Rebecca; and her infant brother.

A memorial service was held Friday, December 7 at New Testament Church in Alexandria with the Rev. Peter Reishus officiating. Music was provided by Nancy Peabody, the eulogy was done by Pat Grant, reader was Lois Walfrid Johnson, and a testimonial by Jim Sky.

Honorary urn bearers were Pat and Lori Grant.

Inurnment will be at Springvale Baptist Church Cemetery in Stanchfield on Monday, January 14, 2013 at 2 p.m. with a time of fellowship following the committal.

Memorials are preferred to the Regeneration Center; www.regenerationcenter.org.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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