Nov. 26, 2018 – Hartford, WI – Elizabeth “Betty” J. Rohde (nee Wepner), 90, of Hartford, found peace on Sunday, November 25, 2018 in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family.
Betty was born on May 17, 1928 in Ripon, WI to parents, Paul and Bessie (nee Sharp) Wepner. She was a graduate of Ripon Senior High School in 1946 and Evangelical Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in 1950 as a Registered Nurse. Betty was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church of Hartford, serving on the Mary Circle and many committees over her 60+ years of membership.
Mother, Hostess, Farm Wife, Nurse, Friend; all words that describe Betty. From her early days growing up on her dad’s farm, to her last years as Grandma and Great-Grandma, she was always caring for others.
In 1950, at her brother Bob’s wedding, Betty met Cyril Rohde and they began dating while she was still in nurses training. Immediately (three days) after stepping off the train from his two-year deployment in the Korean Conflict, they were married, December 20, 1952.
As a farm wife and then mother of their four children, she cared for them all by making a loving home, cooking three big meals a day and living a Christian life. There was always a large vegetable garden and an abundance of beautiful flowers growing on the farm. Betty and Cyril enjoyed a wide circle of friends, from the Young Adults Club of Washington County (for 70 years), to her Quilt Club compatriots, her neighbors and church friends, to name a few.
But family was always a priority. Nearly every Sunday afternoon and most certainly every holiday was spent hosting or visiting parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles. Then, later in life, Betty and Cyril’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave them many hours of great joy. As the hostess of gatherings of family and friends, Betty’s focus was always on her guests and whether they had enough to eat (especially cookies!).
She loved the beauty of God’s earth, the wonders of nature and all growing things. She loved to learn new things, whether it was a new recipe from her daughter and daughters-in-law, a new pattern from Quilt Club Show and Tell, or a new book suggested by her granddaughter. Betty also enjoyed seeing new places, traveling and camping with Cyril and their brothers, sisters, in-laws and great friends all over the US. She was very proud of being a founding member of the first hospice organization in Hartford, before it was commonly provided by health care organizations. She found it was a calling for her to help people at the end of their lives. And last, but certainly not least, she was her own historian, documenting her life in over 50 years of daily diaries and countless picture albums. She left a rich history and legacy for her family.
Betty is survived by her four loving children, Russel (Teri) Rohde of AZ, Susan (Gary) Mitsch of MN, Richard (Gail) Rohde of Hartford, and Steven (Christine) Rohde of MN; seven precious grandchildren, Lynne (Jason) Ciriacks, Ashley Rohde, Eric (Connie) Rohde, Brendan (Katie) Rohde, Pamela (Dave) Ward, Anna (Jason) Kratz, and Brian Rohde; three step-grandchildren, Tanya Burke, Tiffany Thompson and Travis Powell; seven great-grandchildren, Connor, Adeline, Shyan, Mason, Gabe, Adam and Bennett. Also survived by brother Verne (Sylvia) Wepner of Oshkosh, sister Marjorie Burling of Ripon and other dear brothers- and sisters-in-law, relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of nearly 66 years, Cyril L. Rohde; sister, Alice (Ray) Prellwitz; brothers, John (Vera) Wepner and Robert (Connie) Wepner.
Funeral Services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 738 W. Monroe Street, Hartford on Friday, November 30, at 11:30 AM, with Rev. Stephanie Taylor officiating. Visitation for family and friends at the Church on Friday from 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM. Committal at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Hartford.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church of Hartford, the Schauer Arts Center of Hartford or the National Audubon Society are greatly appreciated.