Elizabeth “Betsy” A. Sauber Thomas, age 79, died unexpectedly on Monday, October 5, 2026, at her lake home on Big Bass Lake, Remer, MN.
She was born to Arnold and Ethel Schmitz Sauber on January 30, 1947 in Minneapolis, MN. Betsy grew up in Lakeville, MN, attending All Saints Elementary School and Lakeville Junior High School. She graduated in 1965 from Bethlehem Academy High School in Faribault, with the 100 year centennial class. In 1969, she graduated from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN and later in 1993 adding a Master’s in Education from St. Mary’s University. She married her best friend and the greatest guy on earth, Donald Thomas on August 1, 1970 at All Saints Catholic Church in Lakeville, MN.
Betsy taught at various schools, both public and private, in southern Minnesota. Working in both regular classroom and special education. Her last 25 years at Divine Mercy Catholic School in Faribault, MN. 43 years in the field of Education. After her retirement from teaching, she moved from her farm in rural Dundas to her lake home in Remer, MN, wintering in Apache Junction, AZ.
She is survived by her children and grandchildren, Spencer and Katie Thomas and children, Ava, Parker, Cash and Zahra; Jesse and Megan Thomas and children, Taylor and Tytan; Matthew and Stefanie Thomas and children, MJ, Elizabeth and Lenorah; Lesley Thomas Farmer and children, Kaidence and Bennett; Adam and Rebecca Thomas and children, Raziland, London, Dylan and Myles; former son-in-law, Brian Farmer; her sisters, Nancy Sauber (Tim Kuntz) and Colleen Sauber; her brothers, Jerry (Janet) Sauber, Bill (Cindy) Sauber; by her sisters-in-law, Sr. Theresa Thomas and Mary Ann Thomas; by her brothers-in-law, Matthew (Judy) Thomas and Daniel (Paula) Thomas and numerous cousins and a plethora of friends including her card club and old ladies club.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Donnie, her parents, Arnold and Ethel Sauber, her brother, Fr. Michael Sauber, her in-laws, Matt and Margaret Thomas and her brother-in-law, Martin Thomas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault with Fr. Alex Marquette officiating. Interment will be held at the Calvary Cemetery, Faribault.
Memorial visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Monday, October 12, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday for one hour prior to services.
The family prefers that memorials be directed to the Divine Mercy Catholic School Endowment Fund or to the Donald and Elizabeth Thomas Family Scholarship Fund at Bethlehem Academy High School in memory of Betsy.
