News
Betty Rehfuss, the heart of DCB, loses battle with cancer at the age of 61
Scott Wagar
04/23/2013
Betty Rehfuss, math instructor at Dakota College at Bottineau, and a respected individual in Bottineau County for her kind and giving ways, died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer.
Rehfuss was born on March 4, 1952, in Aberdeen, S.D., and was raised in Groton, S.D. She earned her Bachelor and Masters’ degrees from Northern State University in Aberdeen with a Master’s degree in education, a curriculum in secondary classroom teaching, with her subject in mathematics.
Rehfuss began her teaching career at Dakota College at Bottineau in 1977 instructing mathematics. Throughout her career at college, she taught every mathematic course DCB offered its students, along with instructing some of the very first computer classes on the campus.
During her tenure at Dakota College, Rehfuss was also an admission counselor for one academic year at the college, the advisor to the school newspaper during her first years at Dakota College, instructed the college’s community education program and was a presenter at DCB’s student recognition dinners.
Outside of her course work, Rehfuss served on the curriculum committee, the academic standards committee, the faculty senate, the assessment committee, tenure committee, and many others committees and organizations.
Rehfuss also volunteered her services to the college, the city of Bottineau and the surrounding counties. She was a minor official at basketball games, assisted the county mathematics and spelling contests for area public school students, Science Olympiad and was active in Dakota College at Bottineau’s Rummage Sale for a Cause and Relay for Life team.
Within Bottineau, she was a member of Bottineau’s Women Community Choir and narrator for a number of choir’s public performances. She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and held an active role in the parish.
Dr. Ken Grosz, dean of Dakota College at Bottineau, stated that Rehfuss was an incredible individual in every way.
“Betty was a remarkable person. She was certainly an outstanding teacher, and more than that, she was very active in campus life and had a great interest in our students, following their activities and getting to know them on a personal basis,” Grosz said. “I am hopeful we all know what we have lost with Betty’s passing. She dedicated her career to the art and science of teaching and learning, and her loyalty and dedication to her students and Dakota College was extraordinary.”
Rehfuss’ funeral will be Wednesday, April 24, at Our Savior’s Lutheran in Bottineau at 10:30 a.m.