Betty Lou Whirry

Betty Lou (Meilgaard) Whirry passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the Markesan Resident Home. She was born on Friday, June 13, 1930, in Jump River, Town of McKinley, Taylor County Wisconsin. Her parents were Soren Meilgaard and Marguerite Richardson Meilgaard. Her birth was announced by shouting to the neighbors across the flooded creek.

Betty graduated from Gilman High School in 1948 and moved to Ripon to work in the toy factory and college soda fountain. She met Maurice through her brother Jack who was Maurice’s Army buddy.

Betty and Maurice were married Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950, in the Marquette Methodist Church. They moved into Maurice’s former family farm house. Betty was a homemaker, mother, farm owner, self-taught upholsterer and taught vocational school, was a 4H leader, seamstress (many family wedding dresses came from her hands). She was Markesan School Board President, Marquette village clerk and worked for DNR licensing. She did all of this while raising four children and spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, watching her birds, traveling, all manner of crafting and spending time with her dogs.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Maurice, sister Karen, brother Jack, brothers-in law Victor Skabroud, Lester Whirry, Richard Cowley, Gerald Goodrich, sisters-in-law Lillian Turner, Patricia Cowley, June Goodrich and grandson Lee Grams. She is survived by children Margaret Whirry (Ted Lange), Gary Whirry (Renée), Judy Goodman (Bob), and Ann Hein (Robin); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to Pastor Shin and Pastor Joseph Christopher from the Markesan United Methodist Church, Pastor Plagenz from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Manchester. An additional thank you to the staff of the Markesan Resident Home for care over the last 3 years.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025, at United Methodist Church 74 East Catherine Street, Markesan, WI and on Saturday May 3, 2025, from 10-11:00 a.m. at Church.

A memorial service for Betty will follow at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at church with Rev. Joseph Christopher officiating.