Betty J. Vetterli, age 90 of Monroe, passed away on Saturday, January 27, 2018 after a brief bout with cancer. She was born on July 12, 1927. Betty and her cousin, Grace Ann Disch, were raised as sisters by their grandparents, Christ and Crescencia (Haegele) Kneubuehl on the family farm. Betty attended Bem Country School and graduated from New Glarus High School in 1945. Betty worked at the Swiss Miss Embroidery Factory from 1943 until 1962. Along with working on the many looms at the factory she also gave accordion lessons in the Madison and Monroe area. Betty and Roy Vetterli were united in marriage on March 2, 1962 at the Swiss United Church of Christ in New Glarus.
Along with the love she had for family, her other great love was music. Betty began playing at an early age on an old piano that was kept in an unheated portion of the grandparent's farm house. Not wanting her to just be able to play by ear, her grandmother paid for piano lessons in New Glarus. In her early teens, Betty picked up an accordion and took lessons from Rudy Burkhalter. After having been a student of Rudy's for several years, she became one of his instructors. Betty taught accordion for Burkhalter in Monroe and Madison.
She was one of the main performers at Monroe's Cheese Days for over 30 years. She also performed for 20 years at the Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Along with her solo performances, she accompanied and performed with: The New Glarus Yodelers, The Edelweiss and Betty, her band Swiss Echoes, and her very dear friend, Martha Bernet. The accordion and yodeling took her to many venues in the Midwest and nationwide, including: The Hollywood Bowl in California, and Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian Institute where Betty and Martha Bernet received a standing ovation. When not performing, she continued to give accordion and piano lessons for many years from her home in Monroe. In later years she and good friend Helen Krattiger played for numerous area nursing homes, where the residents always welcomed them. Besides her music, she enjoyed making family dinners, watching her granddaughters play softball at Twining Park, watching the birds at her feeders and spending time with her cats.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Roy Vetterli; two sons, Gary (Rita) Vetterli of Monroe and Gene Vetterli of Juda; granddaughters, Kirsten and Hannah Vetterli of Monroe; a sister, Lorraine Larson of Platteville; a brother, Christ (Georgina) Kneubuehl of Brodhead; brother-in-law, Paul (Marie) Vetterli of New Glarus; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents; her sister, Grace Ann; and her brother, Richard.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 2, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., at the Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, with Pastor Mary Gafner officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, followed by a luncheon at the Monroe Moose Lodge. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Betty's name. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Monroe Hospice Home for making Mom as comfortable as possible.
Along with the love she had for family, her other great love was music. Betty began playing at an early age on an old piano that was kept in an unheated portion of the grandparent's farm house. Not wanting her to just be able to play by ear, her grandmother paid for piano lessons in New Glarus. In her early teens, Betty picked up an accordion and took lessons from Rudy Burkhalter. After having been a student of Rudy's for several years, she became one of his instructors. Betty taught accordion for Burkhalter in Monroe and Madison.
She was one of the main performers at Monroe's Cheese Days for over 30 years. She also performed for 20 years at the Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Along with her solo performances, she accompanied and performed with: The New Glarus Yodelers, The Edelweiss and Betty, her band Swiss Echoes, and her very dear friend, Martha Bernet. The accordion and yodeling took her to many venues in the Midwest and nationwide, including: The Hollywood Bowl in California, and Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian Institute where Betty and Martha Bernet received a standing ovation. When not performing, she continued to give accordion and piano lessons for many years from her home in Monroe. In later years she and good friend Helen Krattiger played for numerous area nursing homes, where the residents always welcomed them. Besides her music, she enjoyed making family dinners, watching her granddaughters play softball at Twining Park, watching the birds at her feeders and spending time with her cats.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Roy Vetterli; two sons, Gary (Rita) Vetterli of Monroe and Gene Vetterli of Juda; granddaughters, Kirsten and Hannah Vetterli of Monroe; a sister, Lorraine Larson of Platteville; a brother, Christ (Georgina) Kneubuehl of Brodhead; brother-in-law, Paul (Marie) Vetterli of New Glarus; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents; her sister, Grace Ann; and her brother, Richard.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 2, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., at the Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, with Pastor Mary Gafner officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, followed by a luncheon at the Monroe Moose Lodge. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Betty's name. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Monroe Hospice Home for making Mom as comfortable as possible.