Betty Jean Sorenson

Betty Jean Sorenson, 84 of Willmar, peacefully entered her heavenly home on Sunday, May 3, 2026 surrounded by love at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. A celebration of her life will be 2:00 pm Friday, May 15, 2026 at Eagle Lake Lutheran Church in Willmar.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the services at church.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.  Arrangements are with the Harvey Anderson and Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar.                    

We celebrate the life of Betty Jean (Gray) Sorenson, who peacefully entered her heavenly home on May 3, 2026, surrounded by love at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar at the age of 84.

Betty Jean Sorenson was born on Christmas Eve in 1942, to Louis and Doris (Martin) Gray in Glenwood.  Betty spent her early days and attended school in Minneapolis. She married Keith Sorenson on Christmas Eve 1957, and they lived in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Georgia with the military. Betty loved her family deeply; she and Keith were blessed with three sons, Keith, Kevin, and Kendal.

Betty’s life was spent working for Kandiyohi County Family Services for 32 years and 22 years as co-owner at Island View Manor, caring for the elderly and disabled. To know Betty was to know her robust, infectious laugh. She was a woman who cherished the simple joys: a long phone call with a friend, a scenic car ride, and the classic songs of Elvis playing on the radio.

She is deeply missed by her son, Kendal; her dear companion, Howard Parker; four grandchildren, Anthony, Nicholas, Allie, all of Willmar and Holly of Pillager; great-grandsons, Elijah and Easton and daughter-in-law, Michele, all of Willmar. She also leaves behind her siblings, Georgette (Dan) Woodfill of Isanti, Colleen (Ron) Danielson of Grove City, Gregory (Wendy) Johnson of Glencoe and Cynthia Johnson of Hakinson, North Dakota, sister-in-law, Karen (Roger) Olson of Willmar along with many dear friends and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith; sons, Keith (Loren) and Kevin; parents, and sister, Gloria Gray.

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