Betty Kendall, age 88, died on Sunday, June 3rd in Northfield. Betty worked at Carleton for almost 35 years, beginning in 1968 as secretary to the Chemistry and Geology departments, then to History and Modern Languages for 3 years, and from 1972 until 1996 in Economics and Sociology/Anthropology. After her retirement, she continued to work part time as a checker for Sodexho until 2003.
Betty was deeply devoted to Carleton and went out of her way to represent the college by helping parents and other visitors to the campus. She believed in maintaining high professional standards on the job and she strongly encouraged faculty, staff, and student workers to meet similar standards. Betty’s attitude and devotion to the college helped to enhance the high quality of the Carleton experience.
Services will be at All Saints Episcopal Church in Northfield on Wednesday, June 6th at 2pm. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service in the church.
Comments
Betty was the administrative assistant in the Economics Department when I joined the faculty in 1976. Although all of my colleagues in the department were welcoming and helpful, it was Betty who helped me feel at home and learn the ropes. I remember her exacting standards, so that any typing she did for me was right, the first time. I remember her delight in her grandson and her pride in her sons. I am so grateful to have had Betty as a friend. Her loyalty to Carleton and to its mission were exemplary.
I met Betty in 1969 when I was still in high school and she worked with my sister Evelyn Erickson Johnson, who had just begun working as a secretary in Leighton. Betty had moved to Northfield from the East Coast with her two little boys and her husband, a professor of music at St. Olaf. There are too many fun stories to tell about Betty here, but as Martha Paas says, her two sons were always her pride and joy. My greatest sympathy to them and their families.
I met Betty when I joined the Geology faculty in the fall of 1967. She was so helpful welcoming me to Carleton and making sure I knew all the ups an downs of being a professor. She was always so cheerful and helpful. What a great person she was!