Betty Jane VanDeMark

BETTY JANE STINNETT-VANDEMARK (ES BURLESON) Stinnett-VanDeMark, Betty Jane, 92, of Joppa Avenue S, St. Louis Park, MN, has continued her journey on to Heaven on May 8, 2024. Born in Fenner, New York on May 3, 1932, the daughter of Cassious and Jane (Lawton) Burleson, she was one of several siblings raised on the farm in Oneida, New York, where she enjoyed the country and working on the farm, having several friends, including humans AND all the farm animals, including her pet skunk, Petunia (yes, stink bag removed). Betty attended college at New York State in Cortland, NY, where she met her future husband, Ronald F. Stinnett, who proposed on top of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga. They married on June 9. During their marriage they had 5 beautiful children, living across the country in several locations including Cortland, NY, Minneapolis, MN, North Springfield, VA, Memphis, TN, and have called the Twin Cities home since 1974. Ronald passed away in February 2004. She remarried in July, to Raymond C. VanDeMark, a long-time friend and classmate from 7th grade and enjoyed her retirement and second family immensely. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of NY, Cortland and became a registered nurse for the ICU/CCU for several hospitals most of her life, and continued to serve others through her care providing well into her 70's. The second part of her career, she and her best friend, Jenny, another RN, teamed up for 25+ years to care for three in-home hospice patients who were terminally ill. In addition, she also degreed in Teaching, and alternated hours between two careers to make ends meet. Betty's personality and love of all things living was contagious. If you had an opportunity to meet her, she'd always be there with a bright smile & loving hand. She found the positive point in any topic, taught all around her how to be patient and thoughtful, and above all, to love life and all things living (people, pets, nature, plants). She knew all her children's friends, the door was always open (as was the refrigerator), and she 'adopted' many others along her journey through life. She kept in touch with her high school and college friends, and worked hard on relationships, as she believed 'everyone needs love and you never know when a person's kind words could help someone else's day'. She lived life to the fullest, and those she loved will miss her dearly. Betty is proceeded in death by her parents, Cassious & Jane Burleson, Ronald F. Stinnett, her siblings, Bob, Dick, Katherine, Margie, Frederika, and Ruth, and her grandson, Maximus (Sean & Maria). She is survived by her 5 children, Barbara Dean Stinnett of St. Louis Park, MN, Debora Jean Nelson (Glenn) of Oshkosh, WI, Ronald F. Stinnett, Jr. (Chris) of Northfield, MN, Sean Lee Stinnett (Maria) of North Oaks, MN and Kevin Vaughn Stinnett of St. Louis Park, MN. Her grandchildren were everything to her, with Ryan and Casey Nelson (Deb & Glenn), Cameron, Rylee and Kayla (Rony & Chris), & Ava & Shae (Sean & Maria). Very blessed! Betty's "Celebration of Life" will take place on June 6. 2024, at St. Odelia Church, 3495 N.Victoria Street, Shoreview, MN 55126, 10-11am welcome visitation, with the service being 11am-12pm. All are welcome! Interment will take place with family at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. Betty's request for Memorial is toward the work of the benedictines and their community work, https://saintjohnsabbey.org/memorial-gifts, and to Trails of Orono, who have the most wonderful, playful, positive care providers for memory care! A++ care team and community! Thanks to all of you who participated in life with Betty, you are loved, she will always be with you!

Tributes

Betty Jane VanDeMark

May 3, 1932 - May 7, 2024

Tributes

Betty Jane VanDeMark

May 3, 1932 - May 7, 2024

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