Alice "Betty" Elizabeth (Welch) Spigarelli

Alice Elizabeth (Welch) Spigarelli, affectionately known as Betty by family and friends, passed away on February 16, 2026 from a sudden heart and lung illness. Betty was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her beautiful spirit, her kindness and her love for humanity will be greatly missed. Betty was born September 12, 1942, to David T. Welch and Mildred E. Welch (VanSickle), in Evanston, IL. She lived in Highland Park, IL and Evanston as a child and teenager, and in 1960 she attended Northwestern University where she met her future husband, Steve, and later graduated with a B.A. in Education. Betty and Steve were married in 1964 after graduation, and soon they moved to Champaign, IL where Betty landed her first teaching job as an elementary school teacher, and Steve attended the University of Illinois for his Master’s degree. Two years later they moved to Lansing, MI, where Betty gave birth to their two sons, Jeff (1967) and Dan (1969), and where she taught elementary grades in Mason, MI, a suburb of Lansing, while Steve pursued his doctorate at Michigan State University. Subsequent moves were to: La Grange Highlands, IL (1970-1982), where Betty taught English as A Second Language (ESL) to Vietnamese immigrants and foreign scientists visiting Argonne National Laboratory, where Steve worked.; then to Bemidji MN, (1982-2007), where Betty served as the ESL Coordinator and teacher for Japanese students visiting Bemidji State University each summer, and where Steve was a professor. Betty and Steve retired from BSU in 2007 and then moved to Aitkin, MN, to live in their beloved home on Spirit Lake, where Betty adored the beauty of nature while flower gardening, bird watching, photographing sunsets and fishing with Steve. Most of all, she loved spending time with family and friends, and her daily devotional reading of God’s word.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, David R. Welch; our son, Daniel L. Spigarelli; and her nephew, David K. Welch.

Betty is survived by her husband of 61 years, Steven A. Spigarelli; their son, Jeffrey S. Spigarelli (wife April); their granddaughters, Elizabeth J. Spigarelli and Megan E. Spigarelli; her nephew, Todd F. Welch; and her favorite cousins, Barbara and Loren Prescott and Karen Stears.

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held, Monday, May 4th at 11 AM in First Lutheran Church, Aitkin with Pastor Doug Larson officiating.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at Diamond Lake Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Child Fund International or ELCA Lutheran World Relief.  To leave a message of condolence, please visit:  www.srtfuneral.com.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

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