Betty L. Nelson

November 7, 1930 - September 14, 2018

Betty L. Nelson, age 87, of Richland Center (Bear Valley) passed away on Friday, September 14, 2018 at Pine Valley Community Village. She was the daughter of Arthur Floyd and Bessie Emma (Mann) Schoonover, born on November 7, 1930, in Fall River, WI. She graduated from the Ithaca High School in 1948 and on July 22, 1949 she married her high school sweetheart, Norbert F. Nelson of Bear Valley. She lived most of her 67 years of marriage on their farm north of Bear Valley where they raised their five children. Betty was a very hardworking farmwife holding down the fort on the farm while Norbert worked at Oscar Mayer for 13 years. She was a 4-H sewing leader, sold Avon, did ceramics, bowled in a league over 20 years, worked at Oakwood Fruit Farm a few fall seasons, was an Ithaca Schools teacher’s aide for over 25 years, a bird watcher, and did quilting and cross stitching. She was a member of the Little Brown Church of Bear Valley and of the Willow Valley Church in Ithaca. She loved going on picnics to Devils Lake with the family most every Sunday of the summer. After they retired from farming they spent their winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. Betty accumulated lots of books over the years and instilled the love of reading in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Betty is survived by her five children: Nancy (Tom) Clary of Bear Valley, WI, Margaret (Arthur) Simpson of Holmen, WI, David (Rita) Nelson of Bear Valley, WI, Larry (Sherry) Nelson of Ithaca, Barbara (Burf) Mayfield of Bear Valley, WI; 14 grandchildren, 33 great grand-children, one great-great granddaughter; brother Stanley Schoonover; sisters-in-law Beverly Schoonover, Vernie Schoonover, Sharon Nelson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a sister, Ruth Peckham; brothers, George and Bryon Schoonover; parents-in-law, Fred and Ellen Nelson; sisters-in-law, Joan Schoonover, Hulda Louis, Laura Bouchard; brothers-in-law, Jasper Peckham, Norman Nelson, Ferdinand Louis, Richard Bouchard, Darrell Nelson; and grandson, Ryan Nelson. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at 11 AM at the Clary Memorial Funeral Home in Richland Center. Pastor Tammy Clausen will officiate with burial in the Brown Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 from 4- 8 PM at the Clary Memorial Funeral Home and also on Wednesday from 10 AM until the time of service at 11 AM. Memorials can be made to Willow Valley Church, Bear Valley Cemetery or Pine Valley Foundation.