Debra A. “Deb” Betow Swezey

Debra A. “Deb” Betow Swezey, 63, of Sauk Centre, passed away Oct. 16, 2023 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 20, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with the Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Entombment will be in Unity Cemetery in rural Sauk Centre. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10-11 a.m. Friday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m., followed by a rosary at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. Debra Ann Betow was born Aug. 30, 1960, in Sauk Centre to Martin and Rose (Schmidt) Betow. She graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1978 and furthered her education by earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in teaching from St. Cloud State University. She was united in marriage to Bruce Swezey July 28, 1984, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. Her love was teaching art in the public school. Deb taught at a number of smaller-town schools, and the last school she taught at was Morris Area Schools where she taught for over 10 years. She also served and was proud to fight as the head of the teachers’ union. Deb was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Survivors include her mother Rose Betow of Sauk Centre; brothers and sisters Steve Betow of Maple Grove, Mark (Bonnie Petermeier) Betow of Sauk Centre, Linda Merten of Onalaska, Wisconsin, Karen (Tom) Banal of Sauk Centre and Marilyn (Alan) Latzka of Sauk Centre; her special Cavachon dog Bucko; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Deb was preceded in death by her husband Bruce Swezey on March 22, 2016; father Martin Betow; brother Ron Betow; and nephew Tom Latzka. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Sauk Centre. H-42-1B

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• October 18, 2023