Betty Ann Wilkin

Betty Ann Beyrer Kuberski Wilkin passed away Sunday, January 15, 2017. Born in a snow storm in Connorsville to Emil and Johanna Beyer on January 27, 1926, she grew up on a dairy farm. An adventurous spirit like her mom, she volunteered for the war effort, and was sent to Hawaii to repair radios. It was there that she met her greatest love, Orville. After the war, they moved to Connorsville and were married in 1945. Starting their family right away, Richard was born in 1946. In 1950, while living in Waukegan, Illinois, Lynn arrived. In 1953 a move to San Antonio, Texas was made, and Nina was born there in 1956. Shortly after, Orville transferred to White Sands Missile Range and they lived in El Paso, Texas where Betty spent her next 60 years. In El Paso, Betty had a very active life. As she raised her children, she and Orville were a driving force at Grace Lutheran Church. As Nina became school age, she returned to college to complete the education interrupted by the war, she earned a degree in education, graduating from UTEP the same year as Lynn, 1971. Fondly known as "Sarge", she taught the undereducated GI's flooding in from the draft. In 1972, she was devastated by the death of Orville. Five years later, she married Frank Wilkin, also from Grace, and gained another warm, loving family. Frank died in 1982, leaving her a widow for the second time. Her Norwegian heritage brought her to the Norwegian Society of Texas. A strong leader like her dad, she became state president. Learning the Norwegian folk art rosemaling, she became proficient and began teaching others. That led her to try her hand at landscape painting, which she enjoyed for years. She was also addicted to Hardanger, creating beautiful needle worked pieces. An avid traveler, she visited 48 states, and China, Norway, Germany, and Italy. A lover of history, she sought out museums wherever she went. She worked as a docent for the Ysleta Mission trail for years. She is survived by her three children: Richard and his wife Rena and daughter Amy; Lynn and her husband Stan and children Ken and Jennifer; and Nina and her husband Jeff, son Juan and grandson Brennon. She was a strong woman who touched many lives. She will be missed by all that knew her. She will be lovingly placed next to her beloved husband, Orville, in Connorsville, Wisconsin.