Obituary of Betty Aliperto

Betty “Betts” Aliperto age 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the afternoon of February 15, 2023, at St Andrews Presbyterian Village in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. Born October 4, 1933, in St. Paul, Minnesota she lived for many years with her grandparents Fredia and Gilbert Felberg as a young girl. Moving to Milwaukee WI with her parents Gladys and John Pabian to attend high school at Shorewood HS in Cedarburg WI. Upon graduation she moved back to Minnesota, met, and married her first husband Bernard Johnson and raised five children in Saint Paul. Betty loved life, travel, meeting new people, and living every day with great energy, always with a smile or a kind word. This was shown by her work, and activities she was involved in. Throughout her life, she worked hard to support her family. As a waitress at Serlins Café for 37 years and Savoy Pizza for some 25 years, she enjoyed her time at both places and was loved by the people of the East Side of St. Paul. She also worked at the Minnesota State Fair grandstand for over 25 years, and you will find a special plaque in her honor from her family located near the grandstand. Later in life she spent 15 years in the travel tour business as a tour guide. Traveling to local casinos, road trips to places like Branson MO and as far away as Hawaii. Along with her second husband, Dominic, they enjoyed traveling throughout the US and internationally. Betty also had a passion for music and encouraged her children to get involved in drum and bugle corps. She became a strong supporter in their activity, chaperoning and traveling to cheer them on in their competitions around the country. As an all-around athlete, Betty played and coached softball when she was young and competed on bean bag teams and shuffleboard teams in her later years. What she enjoyed the most was bowling and golf, becoming very talented and successful at both. As a bowler she won many awards over the years here in Minnesota and in Mesquite NV where she lived for 19 years prior to returning to back to Minnesota. As an avid golfer, Betty was a member of the women’s league at Phalen Park golf course and continued to play in Nevada. When Betty wasn’t playing, she was active and enjoyed volunteering for many organizations including the Shriners in the women’s clown club (she became a clown), the St. Paul Winter Carnival, PGA Golf Tournaments, Special Olympics, and American Red Cross. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, she regularly attended Race for the Cure events. Her love of music did not end when she moved to Nevada. She joined the Red Hats and sang with the Desert Dames for many years until her return to Minnesota. Other hobbies that Betty enjoyed were baking, gardening, sewing, quilting, coloring, and any kind of arts and crafts. Betty was kind, generous and easy to talk to; she was a friend to many and will be sadly missed near and far. She dearly loved her growing family, bragged about them often and enjoyed her last years living closer to them. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, generous heart, and talent for making and staying connected to friends for life. Betty is preceded in death by husbands Dominic Aliperto and Bernard Johnson, mother, Gladys Pabian, father, John Pabian, brother John Pabian, grandchildren, Eric and Jenna Johnson and friend Don Loken. Survived by her loving brother Chris (Sharon) Pabian. Beloved mother of Joel Johnson (Chris), Brian Johnson, Peg (Roger) Johnson-Swanson, Scott Johnson (Julee) and Jeff Johnson. Proud grandmother of Adam Johnson, Corry Johnson, Jason Johnson, Sean Johnson, Barbara (Tim) Hiller, Shannon (Ryan) Tucker, Mike (Alissa) Johnson. Great Grandmother to Sullivan, Stella, Hailey, Harper, Leo, Violet, Tanner, Taylor as well as cousins, nieces and nephew. Special and deep thanks to the caring staff at St. Andrews Village (especially Loraine and Jamie) for their personal care and love of mom where she lived in memory care. Betty Jane Aliperto March 16, 2023 Anderson Funeral Home 1401 Arcade Street St Paul, MN Celebration of Life Program 10-11am Visitation 11-12pm Program Light snack and refreshments will be served after the service. In lieu of flowers memorials in Betty’s name can be sent to an organization the donor finds meaningful. Interment will take place with the family at a later date at Union Cemetery Maplewood, MN.