Obit: Free, Betty (1927 - 1982)

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

Surnames: Free, Asplin, Evans, Smock, Boon, Shaw, Clark

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/8/1982

Free, Betty (9 November 1927 – 5 April 1982)

Mrs. Robert (Betty) Free, 54, succumbed to a long siege with cancer on Monday, April 5, in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield. Mrs. Free and her family made their home at 1113 Emery St., Neillsville.

The deceased was born on November 9, 1927, in Neillsville to Anson and Addie (Asplin) Evans. She received her education in Neillsville and South Milwaukee Schools. She then began working for Kearn’s Rexall Drug Store in Neillsville in 1945. In 1946, she married Robert L. Free in Neillsville ceremonies. Mrs. Free remained employed at the same drug store, now Neillsville Rexall, until January of this year when failing health forced her retirement.

Surviving her, besides her husband, are three daughters, Mrs. Michael (Sandra) Smock, Mrs. Melvin (Cindy) Boon and Lori Free, all of Neillsville; a son, Thomas, Neillsville; a sister, Mrs. Louis (Lucille) Shaw, Black River Falls; a brother, Clyde Evans, Concord, California; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Wilfred.

Funeral services are to be held this Friday, April 9, at 11:00 a.m. from the Neillsville United Church of Christ., of which Mrs Free was a member. The Rev. Gary Clark is to officiate with burial to be made in the Neillsville City Cemetery. The Gesche Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (Visitation was set for Thursday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home and on Friday morning at the church for one hour prior to services.)