First Lady Betsy Dalrymple
Betsy Dalrymple became First Lady of the state of North Dakota on December 7, 2010, when Governor Jack Dalrymple was sworn in as North Dakota’s 32nd Governor. She immediately set out to work for the people of North Dakota and advance her long career of public service, with special emphasis on early childhood education and volunteerism.
As First Lady, Betsy’s priorities include: expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across the state; promoting her book “Building a House, Making a Home: A History of the North Dakota Governor’s Residence”; serving as chair of the ND Cares Coalition, and; chairing the task force on civics education legislation.
Betsy grew up near Detroit, Michigan, and earned a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology and teaching from Briarcliff College in New York. She worked as an elementary school teacher in Fargo, before devoting time to her children as a stay-at-home mom.
As an active community member, Betsy has served on the Casselton School Board, the State Board of Public School Education, and the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation. She has also been involved with the Fargo-Moorhead Junior League, Red River Human Services Foundation and the North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project.
Betsy has been awarded: the Children's Champion Award by the North Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children in 2011; the Ready Child Community-Based Award of Excellence by the North Dakota Education Association in 2012; the Love Without Fear Award by the Abused Adult Resource Center in 2014; the Leading Ladies Luncheon Panel by the North Dakota Center for Technology & Business in 2016, and; the Seven Seals Award by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve in 2016.
The Governor and First Lady were married in 1971, and they have four daughters.
