Betty L. Halvorson

Betty L. Halvorson, 87, of La Crosse and formerly of Coon Valley, died at Hillview Health Care Center on December 9, 2014. She was born in Coon Valley on February 18, 1927 to Earl and Lisa (Gullord) Spellum. Betty was baptized and confirmed in the Upper Coon Valley Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. She attended Central and Westby high schools. After graduation, she was employed at Camp McCoy and at Grant's in La Crosse before going to work for the Coon Valley Post Office. She married Carl Halvorson on June 5, 1956 and subsequently stayed home to raise their children. Carl and Betty were married for 54 years until his death in 2010.

Betty was a past president of the Upper Coon Valley Lutheran Church Ladies' Aid and a charter member of the Sarah Circle. She also taught Sunday School during the 1950s and was a volunteer at Norskedalen during its early years. Betty was descended from some of the first pioneers to settle in Coon Valley and she possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of the area. She moved to Hillview after suffering a fall in her home.

Betty is survived by her children, Col. John (Ann) Halvorson and Jane (Gregg) Simmons; one granddaughter, Shannon Simmons; her brother-in-law, James (Joyce) Halvorson; her sister-in-law, Eleanor Spellum; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brothers, Roy, who died in infancy; John, who was killed in World War II; and Donald.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday December 12, 2014 at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. Rev. Ted Dewald will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 12:30 p.m. until service time. The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family.

The Halvorson family thanks the staffs of Hillview and Gundersen Hospital for their kindness to Betty.