Betty Naomi Lough, 84, of Camp Cleghorn, Waupaca, WI, peacefully passed to God’s welcoming hands on September 4, 2008 at her home while surrounded by the love of her family. She is greatly missed by those of us left behind, leaving a void in our lives that over time will be filled by all her love and memories.
Betty was born to Cleo and Newt Cress in Litchfield, Illinois on November 12, 1923. She was the fifth of seven children: Melvin (Irene) Cress, Lucile (Wendall) Savage, Marshall (Jeanette) Cress, Bill (Claire) Cress, Dorothy (Albert) Kohanowich, and Don (Carol) Cress. Betty met the love of her life, John Lough, at a hot dog stand in Kenosha WI in 1944; they married three months later on October 28. Betty and John had three children, Kerri Jo, John Jr. and William.
After spending years at home raising her children she went to work at 9th Street School in the inner city of Milwaukee as a school secretary. Wanting to return to college she attended the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and obtained her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. She continued on to complete her Masters in Educational Psychology in 1974 and spent her final working years as an early education reading specialist. She stayed at 9th Street School until she and John retired to the warm community of Camp Cleghorn in 1985. Betty had never been one to sit idle, so she spent her retirement years cooking, sewing, reading, playing her favorite game of Bridge (but any card game would do!) and traveling the world. She volunteered her time with local organizations such as the Waupaca Area Food Pantry, the Riverside Hospital Auxiliary Board, working the polls on election days (she was a proud Democrat!), the Garden Club, the American Association of University Women and later in life, the Crystal River Rehab and Nursing Center.
When at home Betty was often found sitting at her kitchen table pampering her special pup Luey, socializing with her many friends and family, or playing cards with any and all who would agree. Betty will be remembered as a woman with endless generosity, someone who thrived on helping others and yet only asking for friendship in return. Her grandchildren, Kristin Temperly (Dave Kaiser), Shacey Temperly (Seth Snider), Julie Danninger and Kelsey Danninger will cherish their childhood memories of summers spent tooling around the Chain O’Lakes in the float boat and the late night chats and card games with Grandma. She was proud to be the great grandma to Mackinley Grace and Ava Quinn Kaiser, traveling to Seattle for each of their births. While she leaves behind many that will miss her humorous spirit and kind soul, she will be welcomed into Heaven by her parents, brothers Melvin and Marshall, loving husband John, and her two sons.
Funeral services will be held at the Camp Cleghorn Chapel on Columbia Lake near Waupaca, WI on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 3:00PM, with Mr. Jeff Fletcher officiating. A visitation will be held Sunday, September 7 from 1:30PM to 3:00PM at the Camp Cleghorn Chapel. Memorials may be directed to the Waupaca Area Food Pantry or the Camp Cleghorn Assembly in the name of Betty N. Lough.