Betty Carol Fauskee Atchison was born at home in Worthington, MN, on March 22, 1924. Her parents were David and Effa (Erwin) Fauskee.
She graduated from Worthington High School and attended Apostolic Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she met her future husband, Alfred Atchison. They were married in Worthington, MN, on July 23, 1944. They had three sons, David, Steven and Richard.
Betty helped her mother start Fauskee Nursing Home in the mid 1950’s, and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. She and Alfred started their own nursing home, Haven Home, in their residence on Clary Street in Worthington shortly thereafter. They purchased the Ludlow mansion on the south shore of Lake Okabena in Worthington, MN, in 1957, which they converted to a 14-bed nursing home that they named Lake Haven Nursing Home (now South Shore Care Center). Between 1961-68, they added three additions to Lake Haven which are still there today. Betty decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a Registered Nurse and returned to college in 1977. She attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, for two years, graduating with her Associate Degree in Nursing (RN). She enjoyed learning so much that she decided to continue one more year, graduating with a degree in Social Work. After graduation, she returned to Lake Haven to operate the nursing home that had been operated by her husband Alfred and son, Richard, in her absence. She and Alfred sold Lake Haven to Richard and Barbara in 1981, intending to retire, but returned to nursing home administration at Fauskee Nursing Home (now Crossroads Care Center) in Worthington a few years later. Betty became the administrator at Fauskee Nursing Home when her sister Ferne Fauskee Lundy, who had been the administrator there, passed away. Betty retired the second time in 1994 and split her time between vacation homes in Spearfish Canyon, SD, Spirit Lake, IA, as well as her home on South Shore Drive in Worthington. Always a nurse, she took care of her husband Alfred at home for several years before he moved to South Shore Care Center, and then moved into South Shore Care Center to be with him. She remained there until her death.
First and foremost, Betty was a devout Christian and member of the Worthington Full Gospel Church until it closed. She and Alfred then worshiped at Faith Pentecostal Church in Spencer, Iowa, which was pastored by the Hodges family, who previously pastored in Worthington. Betty loved music and played many instruments, all by ear, including piano, organ, vibraharp, stringed harp and auto harp. She had a beautiful voice and often sang solo or in duets with Alfred, in church, or accompanied him when he sang in church. She loved to garden, especially flowers. If she saw pretty wildflowers along the road, she would have Alfred stop and dig some up to transplant at home. She always carried a pail and a spade in the car for that purpose! An inveterate shopper, she loved auctions and collecting antiques and any manner of other things. She could not resist a bargain! If an item was a “good deal,” she would often buy all the store had left! You never knew what your birthday or Christmas gift would be! Betty loved beautiful clothes, fur coats, and nice cars. She even took flying lessons without telling Alfred. After one of her flight lessons, she asked Alfred why he had been fishing when he was supposed to be working at the nursing home while she was gone! She had seen him fishing from the air during her flight lesson! She enjoyed her grandchildren and liked to make “floppy pancakes” for them-meaning she tried to flip them mid-air when serving. They didn’t always land on the plate; one landed on Alfred’s head and several landed on the grandkids’ laps.
During her years as Administrator at Lake Haven Nursing Home she was active in the State nursing home association, then known as MN Association of Health Care Facilities. She served on the Board of Directors for many years.
Betty passed away on June 29, 2021 at South Shore Care Center. Betty is survived by her son Richard (Barbara) Atchison, grandchildren Alan (Colleen) Atchison, Joel Atchison and Kristin (Femi) Oriogun and great-grandchildren Paul, Blake and Adam Atchison; Jackson and Violet Oriogun and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Alfred in 2012, infant son Steven in 1951 and son David in 2019, her parents Dave and Effa (Erwin) Fauskee and her siblings and their spouses Evelyn (LeLand) Hillstrom, Daryl (Virginia) Fauskee, Ferne (Randy) Lundy and John (Shirley) Fauskee.
A private family celebration of Betty’s life will be held. Burial will be at Worthington Cemetery.
Benson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Cemetery Details
Location
Nobles St
Worthington, MN 56187
