Madeline "Betty" Castenson

Born in Galveston on Jan 11, 1921 to Ernest J. and Elizabeth Fivel, she was named the county’s prettiest baby in a contest held by Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. She graduated in 1937 from Sacred Heart Academy, and was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority from 1938-42, acting as the first president of the first Galveston chapter in 1941.

She met the love of her life, Roland Castenson, at a fraternity dance, and after a brief courtship, they were married in Galveston on October 10th, 1942. They initially made their home in Houston, TX, where Roland was a pilot in the US Army Air Corps and Betty was a homemaker.

In 1961, Betty and Roland, along with their ten children, moved from Houston to Bryan, where they purchased 121 acres in the Tabor community and started Bluebonnet Jersey Farm from the bottom up, one Jersey dairy cow at a time. While living in Bryan, Betty was very involved in her community as an adult leader for the Brazos County 4-H Club, an auxiliary member of the St. Joseph Regional Health Center, where she also volunteered as a Eucharistic Minister and was a charter member of the Golden Medallion Club, and a volunteer religious instructor at the Federal Women’s Prison Camp in Bryan.

A devout Catholic, she was an active parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bryan over the years, serving as a member of the Parish Council, RCIA team, and hand bell choir, and as a Eucharistic Minister. After the death of her husband, she joined the Professed Secular Franciscan Order and the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary.

Betty is preceded in death by Roland Castenson, husband of 50 years; Roger Castenson, son; Tommy Castenson, son; parents Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Fivel, Sr. of Dickenson, TX; brother Ernest Fivel Jr. of Orange Cove, CA; and grandson Cody Williams of Texas City, TX.

Betty is survived by sons, Paul Castenson of Bryan, TX and Danny Castenson of Vancouver, WA; daughters Linda Adams of Austin, TX; Sally Baie of Canyon Lake, TX; Sheri Williams of Bremond, TX; Lisa Cooper of Richmond, TX; Pat Hale of Richmond, TX; and Beth McQueen of Cedar Park, TX; twenty-six grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of Betty’s caretakers over the years, including Jonne Young, manager; Keandra, Marilyn, Irma, Kendra, Arllatrice, Theresa, Rosie, George, and Beulah at St. Joseph’s Manor in Bryan and Gari Douglas, owner; Mary P., Mary S., Vera, Janie, Modesta, Terry, and Diana at The Seasons in Navasota.

The family is very grateful to Traditions Hospice for their compassionate and loving care of Betty in her final months of life. Special thanks to Jan, Laurie, Martha, Phyllis, Deb, and Jacquie.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Monday August 5, 2013 at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan with a vigil service and rosary to begin at 7PM. The funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday August 6, 2013 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in College Station, TX at 10 AM with entombment to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Bryan.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Tommy Castenson Endowed Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made payable to SHSU/Tommy Castenson Fund and sent to the following address: Sam Houston State University, Attn. University Advancement, Box 2537, Huntsville, TX, 77341.