Betty McDonald

Betty Lou McDonald (Viering), age 80, passed away from complications from leukemia on May 7, 2008 at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, TX. Born April 19, 1928 in Augusta, KS to John and Lois (Mead) Moore. Along with her parents, others predeceasing her were her brother, Robert Moore and sister, Helen (Moore) Nelson. Surviving her are her children: Robert Hendrickson, Tom Henrickson, Sara (Anderson) Hanson and Lydia (Anderson) Nyquist along with 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She attended District 93 (country school) through 8th grade, Benson High School for 1 year and then went on to West Central School of Agriculture (Morris Ag School), which is now the campus of the University of Minnesota, Morris. Some of her professional accomplishments included being the President of the National Chiropractic Association Auxiliary and President of the local American Legion Auxiliary in Glenwood, MN. She was also the Welcome Wagon representative/coordinator in the tri-state area of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa during the 1960?s. Betty was an expert seamstress, starting to win prizes at the age of 8. Her hobby turned into a nationwide business when she launched a company to market patterns in the 1960?s-70?s. She owned Betty?s Boutique in St. Paul until moving to Glenwood, MN in 1972 and opened a store with the same name. One of the people she sewed something for was former First Lady Pat Nixon. She and her husband, Archie Viering started wintering in McAllen, TX starting in 1976. They played dance music at several of the mobile home parks in the Valley until his death in September 1995. She moved to Texas as a full time resident in 1998. The two provided musical entertainment in the tri-state area as a duo, Archie with his accordion and Betty on drums. They also sponsored musical tours to Europe, some included the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Along with playing drums in Archie Viering?s band, she also promoted fashion style shows, worked as a marketing rep at Alamo Bank in Texas, arranged tours for Winter Texans to Europe, Asia and US destinations, and pursued her genealogical history, now traced back to 1776. She treasured her family antiques and heirlooms. At the age of 75, she enrolled as a student at the University of Texas-Pan American pursuing an English major. The Director of the Learning Assistance Center at the university, Richard Trevino, once said ?she is an excellent role model for students and for our department?. Not only did she treasure her antiques and heirlooms, but she also treasured her children and family. She will be missed so much by so many. Visitation at Glenwood Lutheran Church from 1-3 pm, Sunday, May 18, 2008. Funeral service at the church at 3 pm. Burial will be at St. Mary?s Cemetery in Alexandria, MN immediately following the service. Arrangements through Anderson Funeral Home, Alexandria, MN