Obituary for Betty J. Nelson

She was born July 11, 1927 to Forrest and Lillian (Couture) Brown in Leshara, Nebraska. Soon after her birth, they moved to the small town of Rosalie, Nebraska where she would grow up, attending and graduating from Rosalie High School in 1944. On October 12, 1945 Betty married Roy Nelson in South Sioux City, Nebraska; and then moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin. She worked as a waitress for various restaurants in the La Crosse area and later at Sam’s Club in Onalaska for ten years. Above all, Betty made her life’s work as a homemaker; caring for her family was most important. Betty enjoyed gardening and flowers, especially Asiatic and Tiger Lilies. She was also great at making homemade Lefse for her family. Betty always put her family first. She was a talkative, fiery, compassionate, and loving woman who will be deeply missed by all.

Betty is survived by her son, LeRoy (Annette) Nelson; daughters, Rita (Larry) Thompson, and Camille (Clay) Hyytinen; grandchildren, Erick Nelson, Nicholas (Candice) Hyytinen, and Troy Hyytinen; great-grandchildren, Andrew and Alexander Hyytinen; a brother, Clifford Brown; and a sister-in-law, Marion Brown. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son in infancy, Forrest; her husband; her brothers, Rodger and Roland Brown; and a sister, Berniece Brown.

There will be a private family service held in the spring, when the flowers are blooming. Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Dementia Association Wisconsin Chapter. Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Woodruff Chapel, La Crosse, is in charge of the arrangements.