Elizabeth Serdahl
Elizabeth “Betty” Helen Serdahl, 95, entered Heaven’s gates on July 16, 2020. She passed away of congestive heart failure while living at Open Arms Elder Care in Belgrade, Mont.
Born in Fargo, N.D., on Oct. 16, 1924, to Dirk Johannes Geiken and Sophie Uchytil Geiken, Betty attended school in Fargo and graduated in January of 1943. Betty developed a love for the piano at age nine, and she coaxed her parents into buying a piano and lessons. While in high school, she added the violin and French horn, giving her a great foundation in music. Her high school piano teacher pushed for her to audition with The Juilliard School of Music in New York; however, God had other plans as Betty felt the calling to go to Bible college and prepare to be a missionary.
In 1944, while attending Central Bible College in Springfield, Miss., she was introduced to Walter Serdahl of Columbus, N.D. In the summer of 1949 after college graduation, Betty and Walter’s paths would cross once again at Lake Geneva Bible Camp at Alexandria, Minn. Shortly thereafter, Walter was asked to be the assistant pastor at Betty’s church, the Fargo First Assembly of God.
Walter and Betty were engaged in January of 1950 and married on April 8, 1950. They pastored at churches in North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. While at their first church in Roseau, Minn., they welcomed their son, Daniel Charles Serdahl and three years later in Springfield, Minn., a daughter, Beth Eileen Serdahl Pickthorn was added to the family.
In August of 1970, they moved to Wolf Point, Mont., to minister at the Assembly of God church. They went on to minister at other church locations in 1975 and traveled as evangelists for many years. They returned back to Wolf Point in 1988 to semi-retire from the ministry. Over the years, Betty gave piano lessons to so many wonderful students. She was fortunate to give lessons to many generations within the same family at times.
After 44 years of marriage, Betty had to say goodbye to Walter on Feb. 13, 1994, when he passed away of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Betty moved from Wolf Point to Poulsbo, Wash., in the summer of 2002 to be closer to her son, Dan. She enjoyed the Pacific Northwest for 14 years and was a member of Gateway Fellowship Church.
In October 2016, Betty moved back to Wolf Point to live with her daughter, Beth, and then moved into a private assisted living home in Belgrade, Mont., in February 2019.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Serdahl; mother, Sophie Geiken; father, Dirk Geiken; and brother and sister-in-law, Don and Millie Gieken.
Betty will be forever remembered by her son, Daniel (Laurie) Serdahl of Sisters, Ore., daughter, Beth Serdahl Pickthorn of Wolf Point, Mont.; granddaughters Danielle (Joe) Prewett of Belgrade, Mont., Carly (Whit) Rush of Wolf Point, Mont.; and her great-grandchildren, whom she adored, Hannah Prewett, Ayla, Cannon and Hope Rush.
Family graveside services will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2020.
(Paid Obituary)
