Leland Betz

Leland “Lee” Dewey Betz, 85, of Moorhead, MN, died Monday, April 10, 2023, at Vibra Hospital, Fargo, ND.  He is survived by his children: Daniel (Linda) Betz, Minot, ND, Melody (Lowell) Walz, Shelly, MN, Gregory Betz, Mt. Vernon, WA, Ronald (Kim) Betz, Mt. Vernon, WA, Courtney Ingli, Wolverton, MN, and Lindsey Brink, Moorhead, MN; his siblings LeRoy (Colleen) Betz, Wolverton, MN and Mary (Betz) Moore, Lakeville, MN; 22 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.  Lee was preceded in death by: his triplet stillborn brother (un-named), his parents: Henry and Myrtle Betz, his grandparents: Charles & Anna Betz and Sven & Matilda Sivertson, his brother-in-law Burt Moore, his daughter-in-law Shireen Betz, his ex-wives, Janet (Betz) Willis, Joan (Betz), and his wife Renee Holm-Betz.

Lee was born on December 26, 1937, in Moorhead, MN, and was one of triplet boys born to his parents.  He married Janet on Saturday March 11, 1961.  They had four children: Daniel, Melody, Gregory, and Ronald.  Lee and Janet divorced in 1979.  Years later he met Renee and would later be married on Friday July 28, 1989; and he welcomed Renee’s daughters Courtney and Lindsey to be his own daughters.  Since then, he faithfully loved and served Renee and her daughters all these years.

Lee was known as a man who had a great work ethic and was viewed as a very hard worker.  He held many jobs over the years to support his family.  Most significantly, Lee worked at Cass Clay Creamery and retired after 41 years of service, and at MeritCare / Sanford Medical Center and retired after 22 years of service.  In addition, he worked many different part-time and side jobs too.  To name just a few of them: He worked a catering business called “Hot Coffee Service” with his brother LeRoy until LeRoy was drafted into the military, he laid concrete, he painted houses, he drove school buses, he cleaned churches, he drove sugar beet trucks, he built high quality sheds for neighbors and friends, he fixed and flipped cars (his favorites being the Ford Festivas & Escorts), and lastly he was a pizza delivery driver for Giovonni’s Pizza and Domino’s Pizza off and on for 30+ years.

Lee loved and served his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during his life.  Some of the most significant ways he did this were: 1) he was a children’s ministry bus driver for First Assembly of God Church doing home visitations and driving parents and children to and from church each week, 2) he sang at church in the church choir and in small singing groups, 3) he stayed after work at the MeritCare / Sanford Medical Center visiting and singing to the patients for which he was nominated and awarded several times the Guardian Angel award by MeritCare / Sanford Medical Center, and 4) his love for singing, led him to become a founding member of the “Prime Timers Choir” for which he sang in for the last 20 years.

Lee was an extraordinary man who had a huge heart and touched so many people's lives.  Whether you met him because he delivered a pizza or delivered a food tray to you, sang a song or prayed with you, saw him at a car auction or junkyard, worked with him or saw him at church, or passed him on the street in his red and white Suzuki or his “rainbow” Festiva, you will remember him or have a fun story to tell about him.  Everyone has stories about Lee; whether he beat them in a game of Rook or Spades (which he absolutely loved his card games along with puzzles), or because he helped them out somehow, people always have a story to tell about Lee.  However, the most significant stories that will be told about Lee will be that he was an amazing and loving husband, dad, grandpa, brother, son, and friend.  Lee will be forever loved and will be missed tremendously; however, he will never be forgotten.

The visitation for Leland, as well as his wife, Renee Holm-Betz, will be from 5 – 7 PM, with the funeral at 7 PM on Thursday, May 11, 2023, in Northview Church (formerly First Assembly of God), Fargo, ND.