"BJ" Betty Jean (Pyle) Norgaard

Passed away peacefully on Monday, February 3, 2020, at 90 years old, with her family holding her hands as she left this world.

She is preceded in death by her parents Charles David Pyle and Caryl Millicent (Simonson) Pyle, and brother Charles David Pyle Jr.

Betty was born on April 5, 1929, in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from Edison High School in 1947, where she was very active. She held offices in many student activities, including drum majorette, cheerleading, lead in the class play, lead in weekly KUOM radio program, and Honored Queen (President) of Jobs Daughters.

At the University of Minnesota, she was a speech and theater major. She held many offices in Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, had many modeling jobs, performed in numerous theater, dance, and radio productions, was Miss St. Anthony Village, and was an Aquatennial Queen Candidate.

She married Richard Norgaard in 1952 and had two children Kilborn Pyle and Tiffany Pyle (Olson) Norgaard.  They divorced in 1967, and after she had a long-term companion, Jonathan Abbott.  Jon is currently living in Tallahassee, Florida, near his two daughters Gail Parker (husband Terry) and Susan Gustafson.

Her work was varied, and she held many positions in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, including Residence Manager for the Governor of Minnesota, Al and his wife Gretchen Quie; General Mills, Inc., coordinator for the search for Women Leadership and Family Living; Originator of window displays and speaker at various events.  Additionally, she was an art and media buyer at Knox Reeves Advertising, along with responsibilities in consumer research and modeling and acting in commercials.

She was active in many groups and clubs, including Boca Raton Florida Garden Club, Newcomers Club in Boca Raton Florida, various Bridge groups, United Way fundraising campaigns, Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, Board Member Minnesota Opera Association, and Minnesota Museum of Art Patrons Committee.  She was also a proud DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution.

She is survived by her son Kilborn Pyle Norgaard and wife Rebecca (Anderson) Norgaard, daughter Tiffany Pyle Norgaard Olson and husband Brad Kevin Olson, companion Jonathan Abbott, brother Roger Pyle (wife Marlene), grandchildren, Jessica Caryl Olson, Kevin Charles Olson. Chad Hillman (fiancée Ashley Madriz), great grandchildren Dylan and Carly Hillman, sister-in-law Shirley Pyle and many nieces and nephews.

Celebration of life will be held at Hillside Cemetery and Funeral Home, 2600 – 19th Avenue N.E. Minneapolis, MN. 55418, April 11th with visitation at 10:00 and services at 11:00 with lunch to follow.  The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society, ResearcHERS campaign.