Debra "Deb" Betow Swezey

Debra A. “Deb” Betow Swezey, age 63 of Sauk Centre, passed away on Monday, October 16, 2023 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 20 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Inurnment will be in Unity Cemetery in rural Sauk Centre.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 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 August 30, 1960 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota 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 on 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 her last school she taught at was Morris Area Schools where she taught for over ten 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.