Obit: Zalkowski, Betty Lorraine (1930 - 2016)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Amelung, Fitzgerald, Hardt, Held, Luoma, Zalkowski

----Source: The Record - Review (Abbotsford, WI) 3/30/2016

Zalkowski, Betty Lorraine (Amelung) Hardt (7 MAY 1930 - 27 MAR 2016)

Betty Lorraine Hardt Zalkowski, 85, died unexpectedly on March 27, 2016, in Virginia, Minn.

Betty was born in Edgar, Wisconsin, on May 7, 1930, to Gust and Josephine Amelung. She graduated from Edgar High School. On May 17, 1949, she married Raymond L. Hardt and together they farmed in Edgar.

After Raymond Hardt’s death in 1976, she married Ray Zalkowski, who passed away in 1992. She worked for Sears in Wausau for 17 years.

In 2000 she moved to Virginia, Minn., to be near her niece, Deb, nephew, Ray, and their families. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Virginia, and was a frequent helper with events, until health prevented her from doing so. Betty enjoyed being part of the Trinity family and always felt welcome.

She loved decorating for each holiday, flower gardens, crafts, helping host coffee and following the Green Bay Packers and was a fan of many other sports. She loved keeping up with friends in the area and especially all her friends and family in Wisconsin. She was very thankful for all her friends in Wausau who kept in touch with her after her move to Virginia. Her very favorite activity was playing cards, both at the Virginia Senior Center and in the apartment building in Virginia.

Betty will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful person, who never forgot to send a card for holidays, birthdays and anniversaries, or just to let you know she was thinking of you.

Survivors include her niece, Debra (Ray) Luoma, of Virginia, and family, Eric (Hailey) Luoma, Ean and Emma, Dan (Alicia) Luoma, Matt (Sara) Luoma, Easton and Parker, and Mike (Hyelim) Luoma; her nephew, Randy (Bonnie) Held and their children and grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Sylvia Held and friend, Rich, Sharon (Kevin) Fitzgerald and JoAnn (Elmer) Held. She is also survived by cousins; and other nieces and nephews.

A family celebration of life will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be in the cemetery of the church where she was baptized, confirmed, married and was active in the Ladies Aid group, St. John’s High Steeple Church in Edgar. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

To sign the online guest book or to send condolences, please visit www.rangefuneralhomes.com.