Betty Mae Bjurstom

April 13, 1943 - May 17, 2019

Betty Mae Bjurstrom, age 76, of Cary, NC, passed away on Friday, May 17, 2019. Betty was born in Milwaukee, WI on April 13, 1943 to Wilbur and Charlotte Haerle. Betty graduated from Custer High School in Milwaukee, WI. She earned two Bachelor’s degrees from North Carolina Wesleyan College including a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She went on to earn a Master of Arts in Psychology from Bethel College in St Paul. She continued her education and training to earn a license to practice Marriage and Family Therapy. Betty really had two careers. After graduating from high school, she married Gene Bjurstrom and they recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. During the next 20 years she was a stay at home mother and wife. She loved and took care of a family of six with a husband that worked many hours to support the family. As the children got older, she began to work at various part time jobs. It became clear that she wanted more out of her work, so she started classes at Waukesha Technical School. When she moved to Rocky Mount, NC, she went to North Carolina Wesleyan College full time. While living in Rocky Mount, she volunteered a great deal of her time to the Rocky Mount Pregnancy Center where she helped pregnant women, many of them poor and single, with support, supplies and encouragement. After a few years, she became a full-time assistant at the Center. After 13 years in Rocky Mount, Betty moved to Minneapolis, MN. It was here that she earned her Master’s and her Marriage and Family license. She also was trained in Play Therapy. She loved working with children and helping them deal with trauma and other emotional issues. When her husband retired, she moved again. This time to Cary, North Carolina, Betty is survived by her husband Gene, her four children, Jeffrey Bjurstrom and his wife Callie, Kenneth Bjurstrom and his wife Jodie, Daniel Bjurstrom and his wife Jennifer and Laura Gaylord and her husband Daniel. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Brian, Nicholas, Brittany, Megan, Katy, Grace, Payton, Avery, Hannah and Amelia; and her brother Phillip Haerle and his wife Audrey, and her sister Janice Wolf and her husband Greg. B etty was very proud of her children. They have worked very hard at getting an education, raising their wonderful families and their successful careers. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on May 30, 2019 at the City of Oaks Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, 4900 Green Road, Raleigh, NC 27616.