Betty Jean Isensee, 84, of Sparta, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at her home. She was born February 2, 1936, to Fred and Lilah (Olsen) Winscher in Sparta.
Betty grew up in the Sparta area and graduated from Sparta High School with the class of 1954. She worked three summers at the A&W Root Beer Stand and after graduation worked as a secretary at Gambles Store in Sparta.
Betty left Sparta and went to Elkhorn, WI to work as a nanny until marrying Roger Olson in June 1957. Together they had four sons, Jeffrey, Greg, Michael and Danny. They later divorced in 1976. Betty kept busy raising her boys, being a room mother at the Cataract School and worked for Bacon’s Village Mart in Cataract. Betty married Larry Isensee; he passed away after nine short years of marriage.
Betty loved watching her boys play sports. She spent almost as much time at the ballpark as they did. Betty bowled on a team in Sparta for over 15 years. She loved to travel to Hawaii and visited all but seven states in the United States. Betty spent several winters in Texas and Mississippi. Babysitting grandkids was a must for Grandma Betty. As they grew up and left the nest, they came back with great grandkids. How lucky can you get!
Betty is survived by her four sons, Jeffrey (Carol) Olson, Sparta; Greg Olson, Sparta; Michael (Donna) Olson, Sparta; and Danny (Kristy) Olson, Ashland, MO; eight grandchildren, Casey (Aleatra) Olson, Sparta; Sydney (Jeremy) Ernst, Black River Falls; Shannon Olson and special friend, Eric Mahan, Sparta; Heidi (Daryl) Blount, Sparta; Cory Olson and special friend, Darsta Chitek, Sparta; Danica (Cody) Wheeler, Centraila, MO; Josh (Blair) Olson, Lee Summit, MO; and Sami Olson and special friend, Jake Farley, Chesterfield, MO. She is further survived by eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Donna Damrow, Sparta and Carolyn Cole, Janesville; her dear dog, Ringo; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; parents, Fred and Lilah; and two brothers-in-law, Gordon Damrow and Gary Cole.
A private family graveside service will be in Cataract Cemetery, Cataract. A Celebration of Betty’s life and luncheon will begin at 12 noon on Saturday, September 26, at the Cataract Sportsmen’s Club. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.schanhoferfh.com
The family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Hospice Team for the outstanding care provided to Betty. They would also like to thank Michelle Hyatt for being there for her spiritually.
The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Betty Jean Isensee, please visit our floral store.