Elizabeth "Betty" Lund

DeForest, Wisconsin – Elizabeth E. (“Betty”) Lund, age 96, passed away on March 25, 2026, at her assisted living facility in Waunakee.  She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 2, 1930, to parents Clarence M. Oberling and Elizabeth Mae (Rinckel) Oberling.

Betty grew up in Rockford, Illinois, where her parents had moved during the Depression, and she graduated from East High School in Rockford on June 4, 1948.  Her early artistic interests became a part of her future dreams, and she pursued that dream by studying art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  During her college years, she was a member of the Beta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.  She also met her future husband, David, on the Madison campus when they were set up on a blind date in 1951.  Betty graduated from the UW-Madison on June 19, 1953, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education.

The couple’s plans were put on hold for two years while Dave served in the U.S. Army in Korea.  Upon his return, Betty and Dave were married on June 9, 1956.  The couple lived in Madison for a short time while Dave returned to the UW-Madison campus to finish law school, and Betty taught art at several different elementary schools around Madison.  After Dave graduated from law school, the couple moved to DeForest, where they stayed for the remainder of their nearly 70 years of marriage.

Betty loved her family, as she and Dave welcomed their son Jon in 1965, followed soon after by their daughter Karen in 1966.  Through the years, their family of four took many trips together, and Betty always enjoyed keeping photo albums to recall their numerous travel experiences.  They visited far too many places to mention, creating fond memories and stories to share to this day.

As someone who worked hard her whole life, usually teaching on her feet all day, Betty preferred to relax when she got home, and she would be the first one to admit that she was not a big fan of cooking.  She was always ready to go out to eat, but moreover, she loved to bring home leftovers so that she wouldn’t have to cook the next day, either.  Betty was an avid reader who also enjoyed gardening, whenever the Wisconsin weather would cooperate.  She knew that she was not an athletic person, per se, but she would proudly claim that she did have a “blackbelt”—in shopping!  She definitely honed “retail therapy” into an art form.  Dave would sometimes question her purchases, but she would assure him that she had saved money because “It was on sale!”

Betty was always busy, whether working on a watercolor painting, doing ceramics, or completing a craft project.  Betty also loved flowers of all kinds—(fresh or artificial)—and the number of silk flower arrangements she had is a testament to just that.  Professionally, she was a member of multiple education associations.  She was also an active member of Christ Lutheran Church, serving for many years on Altar Guild, as well as contributing to the church bazaars, and helping with various luncheons and lutefisk dinners at the church.  Over the years, she was also a part of several social clubs, including helping to form a local “Ladies Lunch Bunch” that met monthly for decades.

Above all, though, Betty truly enjoyed her years as an art teacher, helping to foster creativity in anyone who took one of her classes.  She definitely felt a close bond with so many students whose lives had touched hers over the years.  She was an educator for 34 years, and 24 of those years were as the art teacher at DeForest High School.  She began in 1966 as a “part-time” teacher with only 3 class periods, but she quickly developed it into a “full-time” teaching position, offering a complete, 4-year art program to students who elected to take art.  She also started the DHS Art Club in 1970, giving active and enthusiastic students a chance to thrive, as they put on an Art Fair for many years and saved money to go on field trips to various art museums and architectural experiences in the Midwest.  Betty opened up the art room to students every period of the day, giving up her “free/planning periods” and her lunch hour, too, so that students could come in to the art room at any time to work on projects, eat lunch, or spend time with friends.  When Betty retired from teaching in 1990, the principal of DHS stated, “I have never seen her in the teachers’ lounge.”  She always had a listening ear and would only offer advice if someone asked for it.  Betty was always upbeat, positive, and tried to make the best of any situation.  She would often remark, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”  Sage advice from a wise woman.

Betty is survived by:  her two children Jon Lund, and Karen (Scott) Thomas; her four grandchildren Alexander Thomas, Madison Thomas, Hazel Lund, and Leo Lund; her sister-in-law Susan (John) Gauerke, nephew Steve (Danette) Gauerke, niece Karin (Scott) Sorensen, and nephew Tom Lund.

She was preceded in death by her husband David Lund, her parents, her sister Connie (Oberling) Kellson, and her niece Dana (Gauerke) Suleski.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at Christ Lutheran Church:  220 S. Main Street, DeForest, WI.  A visitation will take place from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 4:00 p.m.

The family would like to thank the loving and caring staff at Hattie’s Glen Senior Living (formerly BrightStar) in Waunakee for their time and dedication to Betty’s care over the past year, and also to Brighton Hospice for their assistance and compassion in her final days.  We are forever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:  Christ Lutheran Church or the Salvation Army in Betty’s name.

To leave a memory, please visit:  www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Windsor/DeForest Chapel

6924 Lake Road

608-846-4250