Post Messenger Recorder -

Betty D. Zentner, age 93 of New Glarus, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2017, at the New Glarus Home. She was born on February 1, 1924, to her parents, William and Martha (Skogen) Frye, on their farm in Blue Valley.

Betty graduated from Mount Horeb High School. On August 23, 1942, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Delmar N. Zentner, at East Blue Mounds Lutheran Church. They met when they were seniors in high school, on New Year's Eve 1940, at a dance at the Wilhelm Tell Hall. Together they celebrated 72 years of marriage, farming, raising children, traveling and always dancing.

Betty had the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. She loved to care for babies and all children. She opened her home to friends and strangers, neighbors and pets, and served beautiful and delicious feasts that nourished both body and soul. Her skillful hands could decorate elegant cakes, serve as an excellent seamstress, and grow beautiful flowers. Betty loved to celebrate heritage, accomplishments and the goodness in all things and faithfully recorded all family history in volumes of picture books. She enjoyed working outside her home too, and was employed at the Embroidery factory, Hoffs Store, Swiss Valley Orchard, Little Norway, and volunteered at the New Glarus Home. When her children were young, she was PTO President, a Youth Fellowship Leader, 4-H Leader, and member of GUGG and Ladies Aid at the Swiss United Church of Christ. She never gave up or gave in; she just gave with all her heart.

Betty is survived by her children, Cheryl (Robert) Bergum, Roderick (Pat) Zentner, Valla Zentner, Julie (Jerry) Landmark, Debby (Jay) Schneider, Holly (Charles) Carnes; grandchildren, Anna (Steve Elliott) Landmark, Katie (Scott) McIlvanie, Kyle La Fond, Ryan (Holly) La Fond, Jaclyn (Luke) Steel, Kevin Schneider, Nicholas, William and Taylor Carnes; great-grandchildren, Alice, Harrison and Rose Elliott, Dane McIlvanie, and Violet Steel. She is further survived by sister-in-law, Kathleen Elmer; nieces and a nephew.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sister-in-law, Marion Streiff; brothers-in-law, Clayton Streiff, Harold Ingwell and Arthur Elmer; grandson, Ben Bergum; and great-grandson, Devon Steel.

A memorial service was held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, April 8, 2017, with Rev. Kim Moeller officiating at the New Glarus Home Chapel, 600 Second Avenue, New Glarus, WI (access via the Elm Dr. entrance).

A gathering of relatives and friends was held from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the New Glarus Home Chapel.

The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is assisting the family.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.