Obit: Schlais, Betty J. (1931 - 2009)

Contact: R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Griepentrog, Korth, Melke, Pagel, Schlais, Schmidt, Schwoch, Short, Weideman, Zeilke

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., WI), January 8, 2009, Online Edition

Schlais, Betty J. (Knorr) (May 23, 1931 - January 5, 2009)

Betty J. Schlais, 77, Town of Browning, died Monday, Jan. 5 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, where she had been a patient for the past three days.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 9 at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Medford, with Pastor John Melke officiating. Interment of her cremated remains will take place at Medford Evergreen Cemetery II at the time of her husband's death.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Adam, Luke and Jacob Korth, Lee Schlais, Eric Zielke and Tyler Griepentrog.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Jan. 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford, and at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

The former Betty Knorr was born May 23, 1931 in the Town of Browning to the late Reuben and Frieda (Schmidt) Knorr. She attended Fairfield Elementary School in the Town of Browning and was a 1949 graduate of Medford High School. She worked at the Medford Cannery.

On June 10, 1950 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, she married Lawrence L. Schlais, who survives. She worked at Hoffman's Ben Franklin in Medford, was a home care giver and a homemaker. In retirement for the past nine years to the present, she was a driver for Comfort Carriers.

She was a member of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church and Gad Homemakers Club. She was a 4-H leader for the Gad Go Getters for 13 years, was a past treasurer for the Taylor County 4-H Federation, and was active in the farmers markets in Marshfield and Medford. She enjoyed traveling, skiing, walking, dancing, flower gardening, arts and her pet animals.

In addition to her husband, survivors include her children, Peggy (Darrell) Korth of Fort Atkinson, Larry (Wenda Schwoch) of Minneapolis, Minn., Lenard (Pat Short) and Donna (Darwin) Zielke, both of Medford, and Irene (Greg) Griepentrog of Marshfield; a brother, Roy (Cordy) of Manitowoc; a brother-in-law, Herme Pagel of Chilton; a sister-in-law, Jenny Knorr of Marion, N.C.; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Jeanette Weideman and Grace Pagel; a brother, Reuben "Dicka" Jr.; and a brother-in-law, Bud Weideman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church or to the family for a future designation.

Online condolences may be made at hemerfuneralservice.com.