May 2, 1916 – March 28, 2010


Betty M. Williams of Waukesha died Sunday, March 28, 2010, at AngelsGrace Hospice at the age of 93. She was born May 2, 1916, in Waukesha, to Otto and Florence (nee House) Schroeder.

Betty attended Union Grade School and Waukesha High School where she was the secretary of the student body, sang in the choir, had an interest in journalism and played tennis. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a member of the Delta, Delta, Delta sorority and with her friend Dick Riblet, she established the Thimble Theatre (a marionette theater). In her 40s, she received her teaching degree at Carroll College, and then taught at Pleasant Hill, Whittier and Prairie elementary schools.

Betty enjoyed spending her summers at Buchner Pool, where she met her husband, Lewis, who was a lifeguard there. They were married Sept. 27, 1936, and shared 73 wonderful years of marriage before his death Jan. 3, 2010.

She was a founding member of Southminster Presbyterian Church, where she was active in the choir. Betty was a former member of First Presbyterian Church, where she was a deacon and Sunday school teacher. In her retirement, she was a teaching assistant and established the Mother Goose collection of more than 600 volumes in the Carroll University Library. She was an avid reader and a member of the Auxiliary at Avalon Square, where she read to the residents of Arbor Manor. Betty loved the challenge of academics, knitting, was a marvelous cook and was active in Girl Scouts for both of her daughters. She was a member of Waukesha Service Club and served on the board of directors for the Waukesha Public Library. She enjoyed traveling for business and hunting and fishing trips to South Dakota and Wyoming with Lew, and for pleasure with Sally. She was especially proud of her audition for Jeopardy when she was in her 60s. She will be remembered for her quick wit and sense of humor.

She will be fondly missed by her daughters, Sally (George) Winkler of LaGrange, Ill., and Judith Williams of Waukesha. She is further survived by her daughter-in-law, Pam (Ken) Burnett of Jefferson; nine grandchildren; 17 greatgrandchildren; two greatgreat-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis E.; son, Lewis A.; and a sister, Marjory.
 
A memorial service will be planned for early summer.

Memorials may be made to the Library Fund at Carroll University, 100 N. East Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186, for Betty’s Mother Goose book collection; or Southminster Presbyterian Church, 200 Richard St., Waukesha, WI 53189.

For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 547-4035, or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com to leave an online tribute.