Betty Pierce passed away peacefully at Collinwood Memory Care, Brodhead, WI on Memorial Day 2023. Betty was born in Beaver Dam Wisconsin on March 28, 1927, to Orvin and Henrietta (Schultz) Priest. She graduated from Beaver Dam High School in the class of 1945. Betty was the oldest of 3 children, with two younger brothers Ryan and Nyles.
Betty worked at Monarch Range company as a receptionist which is where she met Jack, a new salesman who was hired to ‘tame the western USA’ for the company. After a whirlwind romance the two were married on March 31, 1951, in Littleton, Colorado. Jack and Betty moved back to Wisconsin to start a family and settled in Jack’s home town of Brodhead. Betty joined Jack and Mother Vernis Pierce in founding Pierce Furniture in 1952. Betty was active in community affairs serving as President of the local chapter of Jaycettes in 1954.
After the business was established, Betty focused on being a wonderful mother for her three sons John, Jim, and Jeff. In her leisure time Betty loved to play bridge and had a weekly girl’s night for decades. Betty and Jack enjoyed golfing and played together often. They traveled the world. The Pierces wintered together for over 30 years near Vero Beach Florida and spent many summers at the cottage on Lake Redstone near La Valle WI. Betty and Jack were avid fans of Wisconsin Badger football, basketball and hockey, where they were season ticket holders for all three.
The couple loved spending time with family and friends from near and far. Later in life Betty became quite the songbird. She had an uncanny ability to remember the lyrics to love songs from the 1950s and could light up a room and bring a smile to all around. Such a blessing.
Betty and Jack were long standing members of United Church of Christ in Brodhead WI.
Betty was preceded in death by her mother, father, brother Ryan and husband, Jack.
She is survived by her brother Nyles in Fond Du Lac WI, her three sons, John (Julie) Janesville, James (Thanita) Thailand, and Jeffrey (Lori) New Freedom, PA. Three grandchildren, Jeffrey, Justin, and Nicole. Three great grandchildren, Maddy, Jack, and Parker.
The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at Collinwood Memory Care and Promedica Hospice. Many thanks to all those who visited Mom, especially Jeni Sorg, a special friend who facilitated wonderful weekly video calls to loved ones who were not local.
Private family services will be held at a later date with burial concluding at the Greenwood Cemetery in Brodhead. The DL Newcomer Funeral Home in Brodhead is assisting the family.
The family plans to host a celebration of life event for Betty later in the year, please watch for future times and dates.
In lieu of flowers, please direct any memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, which is working hard to battle this disease which affects so many.
www.dlnewcomerfuneralhome.com 608-897-2484
