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Obituary for Betty and Robert Wilhelm


Robert Wilhelm 05-28-2014 + Betty Wilhelm 05-28-2023

Funeral services will be Friday June 23, 2023 held at 11 A.M. at Fredrickson Funeral Home, Woodruff Chapel, 4239 Mormon Coulee Rd., La Crosse, WI. Following the service there will be a time of fellowship. Following the time of fellowship, inurnment for Betty and Robert will take place at the Chapel of Devotion Mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse. A visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service.

Betty Ellen (Hefti) Wilhelm 93, Onalaska Wi passed away Sunday May 28, 2023 at Onalaska Care Center from natural causes.

Betty was born March 7, 1930 in La Crosse Wi to Hazel (Kitelinger) and Peter Hefti, the youngest of 9 children. She married Robert "Bob" Wilhelm September 21, 1946. Together they had six children. She in food service for most of her adult life and retired from the food service department at UWL in 1989. In her youth, Betty loved to roller skate and spend summers at the family's boathouse, as well as go dancing at the Avalon Ballroom and Bohemian Hall. She served as a Vacation Bible School teacher, Girl Scout troop leader and Cub Scout den mother, volunteer for the Oktoberfest, Riverfest and Sunfish Days. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, crafting, camping, gardening. She was also an avid sports fan, supporting her Packers, Cubbies, Milwaukee Braves and Brewers.

Betty is survived her children, Patsy Miller, Kitty Hunt, Bobbi (Mike) Tobin, Carrie (Chuck) Simpson, David (Becky) Wilhelm Sr; and grandchildren Steve (Mark Speltz) Miller Jr, Susan (Norman) Willer, Kathleen (Tim) Beggs, Tim (Bari) Hunt Jr, Michael "Toadie" Hunt, Shelly (Marc) Pierce, Jason (Dawn) Smith, Ami (Jim) Fron, Rachel (Marc) Seinkiewicz, Cori (Phil) Hubbard, Megan (Travis) Livingston, Matt Simpson, Kelly (Ryan) Thorne, Maggie (Jason) Watkins, David (Tina) Wilhelm Jr. Betty is further survived by 25 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren, brother in-law Ron (Camille) Wilhelm, many nieces and nephews and cousin Willy Hefti.

She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Bob, infant son Robin Jan, in-laws Earl and Zita Wilhelm, sister in-law Jean Wilhelm, brother in-law Richard Wilhelm; infant grand daughter Jessica Lynn Tobin, son in-law Tim Hunt Sr, siblings William Hefti, Georgina Hefti, Marie (Harvey) Powers, Hazel (Robert) Wallace, Dolores "Lolly" (Howard Sr) Duckworth, Clifford (Peggy) Hefti, Henry (Eula) Hefti, Bernard Hefti. Nephews Cliff Jr, Hal, Dan Hefti, Lynn Duckworth, Mike Wilhelm.

The family requests that no cash memorials be given. Instead, please gift to your house of worship or favorite charity in Betty's memory. Her favorite charities were St Jude's Children's Hospital www.stjude.org and St Joseph Indian School, Chamberlain SD www.stjo.org/give

Betty deeply loved Bob, her kids and "grands", her friends and her Lord, in Who's presence she now resides. She will be dearly missed.