Betty Aileen Adams, age 85, passed away on Friday May 31st, 2019 at Devine Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Fennimore, WI.
Betty was born August 27, 1933 to Otto Kneisel and Edith Barnett Kneisel. When Betty’s mother passed away unexpectedly in 1950, 16 year old Betty cared for the home and younger sisters while completing high school. She graduated from Powhattan Kansas High School in 1951.
Betty felt fortunate when her father married Edna Hohnbaum in 1952. With their encouragement, she embarked on her own life-moving to the Topeka YWCA and getting a job at Blue Cross Blue Shield. Through a friend at YWCA, she met Airman First Class Kenneth Adams, who was also the eldest child of a widowed farmer. They married Jan. 30, 1954. She worked until her daughter, Janette was born. From that time on, her vocation was as a devoted mother and wife, moving with Kenneth to his father's farm in Iowa, then buying their own farm in Hickory Grove Township, Fennimore, WI in 1960.
Betty was known amongst family and friends for her beautiful singing voice. She enjoyed singing in St Peter’s Lutheran church choir for many years. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels delivering food. Betty loved nature and birds. She woke up early every day to fill the bird feeders at her home so that she could enjoy watching them from the dining room. She lovingly tended her flowers each day. She filled her home with music and love.
Even as dementia took her memory and abilities, much of what was most essential remained to the last: her admiration for a brightly color shirt or tapping her hand and singing to a once familiar song. And, more than anything, her obvious love of babies and children broke through the cloud of dementia when grandchildren and great granddaughters visited and sparked her love and joy.
Betty is survived by her daughters; Janette (Andy) Kumar of Greenfield, WI, Laura (Chris) Burkley of Ogdensburg, WI, and Cathy Smith (Scott Heberlein) of Fennimore, WI, and eight grandchildren; Mary Bromwell (Mike), Michael Kumar (Sarah), Eric and Andy Linden, Moira and Kellen Burkley, and Jillian and Matthew Smith; two great grand-children; Lily and Evelyn Bromwell. Betty is also survived by her two sisters Karen (David) Randall of Sabetha, KS, and Judy (Dennis) Crouch of Bixby, OK and son-in-law Joseph Linden of South Wayne, WI.
Betty is preceded in death by Kenneth, her loving husband of 60 years, her parents, sister Anita Barge, daughter Patricia Linden, and grandson Jason Linden.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday afternoon June 9, 2019 at the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fennimore with burial to follow in the Stitzer Lutheran Cemetery in Stitzer. Pastor Kristi Ursin will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon until the time of service at the church on Sunday. A memorial fund is being established in loving memory of Betty A. Adams.
The Family thanks Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (formerly Good Samaritan Center) for their gentle care of Betty, and Grant County Hospice for keeping her confortable.