Elizabeth '(Betty)' McGowan

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McGowan,Elizabeth (Betty) Age 94, died December 31, 2014 at the Lyngblom-sten Care Center in St. Paul. She was the wife of newspaper editor and state legislator Martin McGowan and mother of nine children. She was born Elizabeth Nolan on September 15, 1920 in Brainerd and attended St. Cloud State Teacher's College, where she was class president, homecoming queen, and editor of the student newspaper. She taught in Appleton, Minnesota before her marriage in 1943 and helped with reporting and editing the Appleton Press, and later, the Blue Earth Post, particularly while her husband served in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Betty earned a masters degree in gerontology at age 72 in 1992 from St. Cloud State University, 50 years after her undergraduate degree, with a thesis on the need for a single payer health insurance system. She was active in the Minnesota Senior Federation and on its state board. She is survived by eight children: Martin III (Pat) of Monroe Township, N.J., Dan (Pam), of St. Paul, Margaret of Honolulu, Vince (Teresa) of Las Vegas, Kevin (Pat) of Tucson, Brendan of San Francisco, Maureen Sinkler (Paul) of Minneapolis, and Mike (Joy) of Eagan, 17 grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, including Minnesota 8th District Congressman Rick Nolan. She was preceded in death by her husband and her son Sean of Las Vegas. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, January 7 at 10:30 am at the Newman-Benson Chapel at Lyngblomsten Care Center, 1415 Almond Avenue, St. Paul, with visitation preceding the mass at 9:30. Memorials are suggested to the Lyngblomsten Foundation. Roseville Memorial Chapel 651-631-2727

Published on January 4, 2015