1924
Betsy
2010
Betsy Conrad
November 11, 1924 — December 17, 2010
Betsy M. Conrad, age 86, of Ripon, on December 17, 2010, with grace and peace, departed from the earthly life, a life she described as “wonderful”.
Betsy was born November 11, 1924 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to Wilhelmina and Robert Gruber. It was there she received her formal education and made many lifelong friends. Growing up as a young girl in Milwaukee area, Betsy enjoyed summers spent on her Uncles’ farms where she joyfully helped with the animals, and became intrigued with the farm life. She marveled at the quantity and variety of the produce from the farm that was sold locally and through the early Roundy Company. In 1942, Betsy joined the Schuster Department Stores in Milwaukee, and became an advertising manager there. Betsy entered Ripon College in 1944, pursuing an Art Education Degree. While at college, Betsy married Rheinold on June 12, 1948. Together they farmed outside of Ripon, where Betsy learned to milk cows, raise chickens, and drive tractor. She enjoyed spending many hours in her garden and orchard, canning, and cooking wonderful meals for her family and friends. Above all, Betsy was a mother and grandmother, who encouraged her children and grandchildren to enjoy books, participate in sports, and to pursue further education. She loved playing games, and spending hours drawing, cooking, and laughing with them, always encouraging, always dreaming. Her civic interests were many and varied which is reflected in the numerous organization memberships and offices she held. A sampling include: Ripon Science Club (President); American Association of University Women; United Way Board (Director); Farmland Preservation Board; Ripon Township; Fond du Lac County Health Resource Committee; and the South Woods Park Association (Secretary). Betsy served as President of the League of Woman Voters where she acted as radio host, candidate forum producer and emcee and co-authored the booklet “Know Your County” (Fond du Lac). One of her favorite and most rewarding experiences was serving as President of the local chapter of the American Field Service (AFS), which promotes the exchange of foreign students at the high school level.
Betsy is survived by Rheinold, her husband of 62 years, and her children; Kurt (Sheri) Conrad, of Danville, Kentucky, Mark (Jane Martin) Conrad, of Chetek, Wisconsin, and Kara (Roger) Cooke, of Ripon, Wisconsin; her beloved brother, Robert (Theresa) Gruber Jr., of Greenfield, Wisconsin; her six grandchildren, Alyssa, Benjamin, Kayla, and Daniel Cooke, of Ripon, Wisconsin; Jonathan (Nikki) Conrad, of Lexington, Kentucky, and Sarah Conrad, of Madison, Wisconsin. She leaves behind many treasured nieces and nephews who have meant much to her and who added so much joy to her life. Betsy is preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial service to celebrate Betsy’s life is being planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Betsy’s name may be made to: Agnesian Hospice Hope, 745 South St., Green Lake, Wisconsin, 54941, or St. Agnes Hospice Hope Foundation, 430 E. Division St., Fond du lac, Wisconsin, 54935.
Numerous serious ailments confronted Betsy in her later years; she asked that these afflictions not be recounted in any remembrances of her life. She did ask that thanks be given to the many whose generosity and kindness helped her bear her physical burdens…those friends and neighbors, relatives, and skilled health care personnel. And above all, she acknowledges Rheinold who saw it through to the end with her, as husband and caregiver.
Betsy asked that this statement be her departing message to all:
“People get so wrapped up in the seriousness of life…the schedules, the events that seem negative. We know that routines can be changed. I have seen dear friends, 80 years of age and more, hanging out with children. They learn to laugh and play like them. It’s like a green light. We can recapture our sense of wonder; curiosity comes back. We become adventurous. We live in the moment. There is no depression in the moment. It is always now, a time to learn. Bored people are always old. Learn to play.”
Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send on-line condolences.
Betsy was born November 11, 1924 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to Wilhelmina and Robert Gruber. It was there she received her formal education and made many lifelong friends. Growing up as a young girl in Milwaukee area, Betsy enjoyed summers spent on her Uncles’ farms where she joyfully helped with the animals, and became intrigued with the farm life. She marveled at the quantity and variety of the produce from the farm that was sold locally and through the early Roundy Company. In 1942, Betsy joined the Schuster Department Stores in Milwaukee, and became an advertising manager there. Betsy entered Ripon College in 1944, pursuing an Art Education Degree. While at college, Betsy married Rheinold on June 12, 1948. Together they farmed outside of Ripon, where Betsy learned to milk cows, raise chickens, and drive tractor. She enjoyed spending many hours in her garden and orchard, canning, and cooking wonderful meals for her family and friends. Above all, Betsy was a mother and grandmother, who encouraged her children and grandchildren to enjoy books, participate in sports, and to pursue further education. She loved playing games, and spending hours drawing, cooking, and laughing with them, always encouraging, always dreaming. Her civic interests were many and varied which is reflected in the numerous organization memberships and offices she held. A sampling include: Ripon Science Club (President); American Association of University Women; United Way Board (Director); Farmland Preservation Board; Ripon Township; Fond du Lac County Health Resource Committee; and the South Woods Park Association (Secretary). Betsy served as President of the League of Woman Voters where she acted as radio host, candidate forum producer and emcee and co-authored the booklet “Know Your County” (Fond du Lac). One of her favorite and most rewarding experiences was serving as President of the local chapter of the American Field Service (AFS), which promotes the exchange of foreign students at the high school level.
Betsy is survived by Rheinold, her husband of 62 years, and her children; Kurt (Sheri) Conrad, of Danville, Kentucky, Mark (Jane Martin) Conrad, of Chetek, Wisconsin, and Kara (Roger) Cooke, of Ripon, Wisconsin; her beloved brother, Robert (Theresa) Gruber Jr., of Greenfield, Wisconsin; her six grandchildren, Alyssa, Benjamin, Kayla, and Daniel Cooke, of Ripon, Wisconsin; Jonathan (Nikki) Conrad, of Lexington, Kentucky, and Sarah Conrad, of Madison, Wisconsin. She leaves behind many treasured nieces and nephews who have meant much to her and who added so much joy to her life. Betsy is preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial service to celebrate Betsy’s life is being planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Betsy’s name may be made to: Agnesian Hospice Hope, 745 South St., Green Lake, Wisconsin, 54941, or St. Agnes Hospice Hope Foundation, 430 E. Division St., Fond du lac, Wisconsin, 54935.
Numerous serious ailments confronted Betsy in her later years; she asked that these afflictions not be recounted in any remembrances of her life. She did ask that thanks be given to the many whose generosity and kindness helped her bear her physical burdens…those friends and neighbors, relatives, and skilled health care personnel. And above all, she acknowledges Rheinold who saw it through to the end with her, as husband and caregiver.
Betsy asked that this statement be her departing message to all:
“People get so wrapped up in the seriousness of life…the schedules, the events that seem negative. We know that routines can be changed. I have seen dear friends, 80 years of age and more, hanging out with children. They learn to laugh and play like them. It’s like a green light. We can recapture our sense of wonder; curiosity comes back. We become adventurous. We live in the moment. There is no depression in the moment. It is always now, a time to learn. Bored people are always old. Learn to play.”
Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send on-line condolences.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Betsy Conrad, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 2
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors