Bette L. Onsager

Bette Lynn (Stanton) Onsager—wife, mother, grandmother, faithful friend-- went home to the Lord she loved and followed all her life on the afternoon of August 20, 2024.

Bette was born to Briden Stanton and Agnes Linnea (Nelson) Stanton on April 4,1936 in Rugby, North Dakota. She spent her growing up years at first on the family farm and later, in the small town of Sheyenne, North Dakota. She received an Associate’s Degree from Valley City State University (then called Teachers’ College) and got her first teaching job in a multi-grade country school, which she said was like being thrown into the deep end of the pool and being told, “Okay, swim!” She went on to teach in Leeds, North Dakota and finally in the big city of Fargo where her brand-new husband was going to school.

She married Jerome Andrew (“Jerry”) Onsager on August 16, 1958. After he received his PhD from North Dakota State, the couple moved to Yakima, Washington where he began his career as an entomologist with the United States Department of Agriculture. From Yakima, they transferred to Charleston, South Carolina and finally to Bozeman in 1974.

Bette and Jerry were active members of Christ the King Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school, participated in womens’ groups and Bible studies, added her quiet faithful service and encouragement wherever she could.

She was an enthusiastic hiker with BWAGs (Bozeman Womens’ Activity Groups) for many years. She taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to foreign students and their family members at Montana State. She loved reading and always had a good book or two handy—usually history or historical novels. She and Jerry enjoyed many community activities such as concerts, plays and MSU basketball games.

Bette was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry who died in 2012, as well as her brother, David Stanton. She is survived by her daughter, Linnae Albrecht of Bozeman, her son, David Jerome Onsager and his wife Kristen (Pugsley) Onsager of Seattle, Washington, her sister, Virginia McMillan of Bozeman, her brother, Timothy Stanton of Windsor, Colorado, as well as four grandchildren: Amanda and Peter Albrecht of Huntsville, Alabama, Erik Onsager of Sunnyvale, California and Madison Onsager of Seattle who is currently a student in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She managed to live well and faithfully after losing her loving partner of 53 plus years—showing her courage in taking over their small farm, figuring out haying and livestock, dealing with the pain of disposing of Jerry’s collection of farming equipment and gear. Her family is grateful for the help she received from friends and family members during that challenging time.

While we mourn and miss her, we rejoice that her long years of widowhood are over, that the pain, restrictions and losses of old age are behind her, and that she’s dancing through fields of wildflowers and hummingbirds with Jerry and her Savior at her side.

A Memorial Service is planned Saturday, September 14 at 2 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Streaming will be available at the Christ the King website: ctkbozeman.org

In lieu of flowers, make a donation of your choice to someone in need.