Obit: Kaz, Betty Lorraine #2 (1929 - 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kaz, Harper, Hansen, Johnson, Borgemoen, Frick, Ferrel, Botticelli, Driver

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 5/23/2012

Kaz, Betty Lorraine (13 November 1929 - 18 May 2012)

On November 12, 1929, Betty Lorraine Hansen was born to Alfred and Clara (Harper) Hansen in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Betty, or “Mama,” as referred to by her children, passed on to a more peaceful existence on Friday evening, May 18, 2012.

After she attended Thorp schools, Betty graduated form Thorp High School - Class of 1947. Having been born just a few weeks after the great stock market crash, Betty lived her life under the auspices of practicality, resourcefulness, and with a keen understanding of the importance of working hard. Before marrying Ray Kaz in August of 1949, Betty waitressed at the Dairy Bar, was a telephone operator at the Thorp Telephone Company, and was a secretary at the Blue Moon Dairy; all in Thorp, Wisconsin. Ray and Betty farmed their entire marriage until selling the successful operation in 1976.

Working out of the home as a whey hauler for the vast majority of his time on the farm, Ray left the day to day 100+ cows and 300+ acres dairy farm in Betty’s extraordinarily capable hands. After selling the farm, Ray and Betty built a home in rural Thorp, at which time Betty re-entered the workforce with another secretarial stint at ITT Life Insurance and as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Clark County Health Care Center and at Victory Memorial Hospital. Ray and Betty’s retirement years found them wintering at their home in Florida and returning to Wisconsin for the summer. Along the way, their dynamic journey connected them to some of the most amazing, interesting people imaginable.

Over a span of 23 years, Ray and Betty brought nine children into the world. Betty generously shared her love of flowers, raspberry and mushroom picking, vegetable gardening, canning and preserving, baking, landscaping, sewing, arts and crafts, and oil painting with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and family.

Riding around the property to water her vast collection of stunningly beautiful flowers in her convertible (golf cart), listening to music (especially Andrea Botticelli) and recorded books, completing crossword puzzles, tending to her Bichon Frese dog (Lacey) and Holstein-resembling cat (Skinny Cow), sharing time with her special helper, Esther, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and visiting with family and friends brought Betty great joy in recent years. One of Betty’s last requests was that her family and friends spend their Dancing with the Stars votes on Donald Driver.

Passing on to the next life, Betty was preceded by her parents; her daughter, Candace; her two brothers: Jerome and Gordon Hansen; and her husband, Ray.

Surviving this incredibly strong woman are her children: Peter (Christine) Kaz of Owen, Carolynn (Mark) Johnson of Chili, Susan (Dave Borgemoen) Kaz-Borgemoen of Weston, Liz (Ken Frick) Kaz of Overland Park, Kansas, Michael (Emilie) Kaz of Paradise, Texas, John (Kathy) Kaz of Burnsville, Minnesota, Kathleen (Doug) Ferrel of Stevens Point, and Phillip (Robin) Kaz of Stanley. Ray and Betty leave a legacy of nine children, 12 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Friends and family are invited to a graveside service at Riverside Cemetery in Withee, Wisconsin beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2012. Immediately following the graveside service, friends and family are invited to continue the celebration of Betty’s Life at a reception at Meadowview Golf Course, in Owen, Wisconsin.

“Behind every successful man there stands a woman.”