Betty J. Wolfrath

Betty J. Wolfrath, age 94, passed away on February 27, 2016 at Highland Village in Elko, NV. She was born on July 23, 1921 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Floyd L. Watkins and Ethel D. Watkins. She was the 9th of 11 children. Her mother died when she was 9 years old. The family moved to New London, Wisconsin, where her father became superintendent of a furniture factory. She married Richard B. Mathewson in 1937 and had one daughter Margaret Anne. Betty lived in Baraboo during World War II and worked for a time at O'Keefe's Grocery Store and Badger Ordnance. She married Adolph Wolfrath in 1948 and lived in Neenah, Wisconsin. She moved back to Baraboo in 1984 to live with her sister Ila. She had a beautiful voice and sang throughout her lifetime including singing at funerals as a member of Greenwood Memorial POST 987 Auxiliary. She worked at St. Clare Meadows in the ice cream parlor for 14 years. She loved her job at the Meadows, but retired at age 80 . She was involved in the community as she belonged to the Senior Center and helped prepare bulletins for both Senior Center and the Aging and Disability Center. She helped with the hot lunch program for seniors for many years. She loved to sing and did singing at the nursing home for the residents and at the Senior Center along with others singing old time songs. She also belonged to the Senior fitness program. Betty was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and sang in the choir for many years and was a member of one of the ladies circles. She was loved by many with her wonderful personality and bright cheery smile. She moved to Elko, Nevada in September of 2015 to be near her daughter.She is survived by her daughter Margaret A. Albrecht (Stephen); four grandchildren: Martin (Paula) Kamps, Becky (Mike) Spencer, Larry (Laurel) Kamps and Connie (Loren) Schubert; 10 great-grandchildren: Mardi Kamps, Garret (Delynn) Kamps, Brooke (Harley) Neel, Bridget (Malcolm) McCaskill, Mikaela VanHorst, Landon (Sayuri) Kamps, Douglas (Erin) Schubert, David Schubert, Nicholas Schubert, Nicole (Kevin) Jones; 5 great-great-grandchildren: Alec Johnson, Claire Kamps, Isabelle Kamps, Haddon Kamps, Amelia Schubert; and one brother Floyd (Barbara) Watkins II of Appleton, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews. She was cared for especially by her niece, Marlene Powell, and her three daughters, Sue Martinson, Diane Krueger and Rebecca Hill, and her nephews, Dale, and Thomas Monsour.She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Ethel Watkins; sisters, Ila Smith, Crystal Monsour, Thelma Watkins, Velma Opperman, Retha Baldwin; brothers, Paul Watkins, Ronald Watkins, Wayne Watkins, and her baby brother Robert Watkins.She will be missed but she is now free of pain and safe with Jesus in heaven. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Baraboo, Wisconsin on March 8, 2016 with Pastor Karen Hofstad officiating. Visitation 9:00am until the time of service at the church. Burial will follow at Walnut Hill Cemetery. A Memorial Service will also be held at Highland Estates in Elko, Nevada on March 9, 2016 at 10:00. The Redlin Funeral Home is assisting the family.