Betty J. Sanders

Betty J. Sanders passed away peacefully on January 30, 2025, with her family by her side. Betty (Elizabeth) was born on February 26, 1928, in the Town of Coon, Wisconsin to Julia H. Mathison and Einar W. Anderson. She was baptized and confirmed at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. On July 27, 1968, Betty married Earl E. Sanders of Ashland, Wisconsin, at the Chapel in the Sky in Chicago, Illinois. 

Betty and Earl spent many summers of their marriage at the Waverly Beach Campground they owned on Lake Superior, sharing that stirring place with their family and with visitors who loved the wild beauty and unpredictability of the lake and Northwoods, and who did not mind leaving electricity and running water behind. As a family, we are fortunate to hold the memories of drawing water from the Artesian well, the glittering leaves of the birch in the wind, and the majesty of Lake Superior from her most placid moments of smooth glass to the tumultuous waves crashing the shore in a storm. 

From her early years, Betty was very accomplished. She was active in the Coon Valley Lutheran Church teaching in parochial school in Spring Coulee, Timber Coulee, and Coon Valley, and serving as piano accompanist and assistant organist during her high school and college years. She earned her B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and later her M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from UW-Milwaukee where she was recognized at the Honors Convocation for selection to Pi Lambda Theta, International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education. In retirement, she remained active in the League of Urban Educators, Project Rise and the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, and the College Women’s Club which is the Milwaukee branch of the American Association of University Women, serving on its Executive Board. She was a member of Pi Lambda Theta, the Milwaukee Retired Teachers Association and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Alumni Association. For many years she served as the Trustee for the E.C. and Johanna Anderson Scholarship Fund. Her love of her students and music guided her throughout her thirty-six years of teaching in schools from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois to Florida, Texas, California, and Germany. She played for many choral groups along the way.

Betty was very proud of her family’s legacy in the work of the Nation’s first large-scale conservation demonstration in the 1930’s, the Coon Creek Watershed Project. Recently, she shared her memories of that time in the Oral Narrative Project, Learning to Make Running Water Walk, a collaborative project completed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and the Coon Creek Community Watershed Council. Her interview is archived at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Project for future generations to hear. 

Betty had time. She never hurried, and she most definitely was not on time, but was always present, whether to play by the hour with the small children, dine with family and friends, or just talk sharing her experiences and wisdom, guiding us. We are so fortunate and blessed to have had Betty’s time, to know her and to have endless memories of laughter at her wit. In these last years, with her characteristic dry delivery, she would say, “I have lived a good life, and I am ready to go,” leaving us all laughing while she would direct her arrangements making sure we were aware of the correct etiquette. With those words, she lived her faith as she knew where she was going, and once again, she showed us the way.

Betty is survived by her nieces, Nancy (Dale) Wedwick, Juliet (Rev. Dr. Robert) Summers, and her nephew, Peter (Carol) Fletcher, her grandnephews, Timothy (Imane) Griffin, Cole Fletcher, and Michael E. Frost, her grandnieces Anne (Caleb) Pearson, Maddi Fletcher, Megan (Richard) Fowler, Cassandra Fowler, and Sandra (Samuel) Summers, her great-grandnephews, Archer Jack Pearson and Gideon Teitel, and her great-grandnieces, Maihla Joelle Pearson, Lilly Fowler, Juniper Tietel. and many other family and friends. With her love and wit, she lights the path for us now.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Einar Anderson and Julia (Mathison) Anderson, her husband Earl Sanders, her sister Joanne (Anderson) Fletcher and her brother-in-law Jack Fletcher.

Betty’s family gives their deepest thanks to the staff at Creamery Creek for the loving and compassionate care, kindness, and friendship they gave to Betty. Her family also gives their heartfelt thanks to the staff from Moments Hospice, from whom Betty received such loving and thoughtful care.

A private service will be held on Lake Superior in the summer. 

The Seland Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting the family. Condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com. 

Memorials may be given to the Coon Creek Community Watershed Council, Inc., and to charities of choice.