Obit: Benzschawel, Betty Mae (1932 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Benzschawel, Nerdrum, Thompson, Abramczak, Vetterkind, Ketterhagen, Jakubowski

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co, WI) 9/11/2013

Benzschawel, Betty Mae (22 December 1922 - 5 September 2013)

Betty M. Benzschawel, age 80, of Thorp, passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp. Rev. Al Jakubowski officiated and burial followed in New St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were her grandsons: Dean ‘Gus’ Abramczak, Brian Abramczak, Dan Abramczak, James Abramczak, Jeff Abramczak, Charles Abramczak, Jeremy Vetterkind, Jake Abramczak, Clint Abramczak and Jordan Abramczak. Visitation was held at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church on Monday, September 9, 2013, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a 6:50 p.m. Legion Auxiliary service and a 7 p.m. rosary service. Visitation was also held at the church, on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until time of service.

Betty Mae Thompson was born on December 22, 1932, in the Town of Thorp, the daughter of Lawrence and Thelma Irene (Nerdrum) Thompson. She was raised on the family farm and received her education at area schools graduating from Stanley High School in 1950. Betty was united in marriage to Chester Abramczak on November 4, 1950, at St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp. In addition to farming with her husband, Betty was the head cook at Thorp Catholic School for many years. Her husband Chester passed away on September 23, 1979. She was later united in marriage to Alvin Benzschawel on December 30, 1989, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp.

In her spare time, Betty loved spending time with her grandchildren and family, traveling to Alaska, taking cruises, bowling, loved going to Country Fest, listening to country music, and loved the Chicken Dance. She was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic church and its PCCW, Thorp American Legion Auxiliary, Rock Dam Rod and Gun Club, and the Catholic Order of Foresters.

Betty is survived by her husband, Alvin Benzschawel of Thorp; 10 children: Dan (Shirley) Abramczak of Iowa, Don (Darlene) Abramczak of Thorp, Richard (Janet) Abramczak of Stanley, Marilyn (Lenny) Vetterkind of Thorp, William (Beverly) Abramczak of Thorp, John (Char) Abramczak of Thorp, Gary Abramczak of Chippewa Falls, Michael (Carmen) Abramczak of Thorp, Steven (Melissa Abramczak of Thorp, Dennis (Carmen) Abramczak of Thorp; 32 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; one brother, Larry (Marlene) Thompson of Stanley; one sister, Jean Ketterhagen of Thorp; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Chester Abramczak; three sons: Jeffrey Abramczak on May 29, 1964, Robert Abramczak on July 17, 1989, and David Abramczak on February 1, 1999.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co, WI) 9/11/2013

Thorp Woman Died from August 31 Crash

The Clark County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on Saturday, August 31, 2013. The crash occurred at about 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Broek Road and Tieman Avenue in the Township of Worden, southwest of Thorp.

Investigation shows that an eastbound vehicle, driven by Waylon J. Copenhaver, 19, of Stanley, was eastbound on Broek Road. A vehicle driven by Alvin J. Benzschawel, 83, of Thorp, was southbound on Tieman Avenue at Broek Road. Benzschawel pulled into the path of Copenhaver’s vehicle. A passenger in the Benzschawel vehicle, Betty M. Benzschawel, 80, of Thorp, was injured and airlifted from the scene at the time of the crash. Alvin was transported by Thorp ambulance for his injuries and Copenhaver received minor injuries, but was not transported from the scene. Neither Benzschawel was wearing their seatbelt at the time of the crash. Copenhaver was the lone occupant of his vehicle and was wearing his seatbelt.

Betty Benzschawel passed away during the late evening hours of Thursday, September 5, 2013, from injuries sustained in the crash. This is the fifth traffic fatality in Clark County for 2013. The Thorp Fire and Ambulance and Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital air medical transport assisted at the scene.