Betty Ann Eastman Senger, 93, of Merrimac, passed away peacefully at home on March 27, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Born May 10, 1924 near Union Center, Betty was the fourth child of eight born to Ethel Faye (Smith) and Walter Charles Eastman, Sr., a dairy farmer in Juneau and Vernon Counties. A sharp student and avid reader, Betty graduated near the top of her class from Hillsboro High School in May, 1942. She was urged to contribute to the war effort, which she did, by attending Madison Vocational School (MATC) to become a WWII munitions inspector of artillery shells in Eau Claire in 1943.

An amateur photographer (using a Brownie camera she won), Betty enjoyed photographs of family and friends throughout her life. She was an excellent seamstress, loved fashion in her youth and made most of her own clothing until she began to work. Betty returned to the family farm near La Valle, and when her mother's heart failed in 1947, Betty, just 22, helped to manage the household and raise her three youngest siblings. The summer following her mother's death, she and her sister Blanche gardened and canned over 1,000 quarts to help support the family.

Betty met her adoring husband, George Senger, at a dance on New Year's Eve 1949. They were married Sept. 2, 1950 in La Valle, and raised a loving family of eight kids in Merrimac, where George operated several businesses with Betty's assistance, Senger's Forest Products and Senger's Camping. A devoted wife and mother, Betty ensured a rich social life with their children, extended family and even their many dedicated campers. On summer evenings, she would pack up a picnic and bring it to the campgrounds and beach where she and George would join the kids who'd been swimming all day. On holidays, she would host upwards of 30 people around her table, and even more attended picnics on the family beach. After a long day of childrearing, housework, gardening, and manning the phone for the family business, Betty would stay up late at her desk, falling asleep with pen in hand, keeping up her correspondence with hundreds of friends and relatives. She thoroughly enjoyed trips to visit their adult kids and grandkids in FL, TX, VA, the Bahamas and Singapore, as well as George's German cousins in Bavaria.

A woman of deep faith, Betty supported the Merrimac United Methodist Church, its women's group and the community for 68 years. With her angelic smile, and loving, steady presence, she served as a second mother to many who were drawn to her for comfort and guidance. Recognizing the value of medical research, she and George donated their bodies to the UW Medical School. A deep concern for fairness and justice was in her DNA. She was especially proud of her ancestor who donated land for the integrated Eastman School in Vernon County after the Civil War, and she lovingly accepted people from all walks of life. Betty did not judge, but would simply say, "that's different." Despite debilitating illness in recent years, she remained considerate, kind, understanding and intellectually involved, and led a rich and fully engaged life until the end.

Betty is survived by her eight children, their spouses and grandchildren, Linda (Travis and Parke) Cooper, George Jr. (Shannon and Elliot), Dorothy (Dennis, Lindsay and Lauren) Imwold, Marty (Nancy Nelson, Melissa and Stacy Graf), Ken (Roxanne, Daniel and Derek Smith), Tom (Gina, Aryn, Amanda and Nehemiah), Stan (Rae, Ryan and Miranda), and Ron (Shelly, Katie and Nathan), her sister Polly Meyer, in-laws Audrey Eastman, Merlin Meyer, Joyce Eastman, Bob McWilliams and Catherine Otto, as well as extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings Joseph, Blanche, Robert, Walter Jr., Leo, and Marie McWilliams.

The Senger family wishes to thank Betty's health care team under Dr. Danny Sessler at SSM Dean Medical Group, and the compassionate caregivers from BrightStar and Agrace, as well as devoted friends and neighbors who provided support. They helped us to honor her wishes to remain at home, and to donate her body to Medical Research at the UW Madison.

A Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, April 21st at the Merrimac United Methodist Church, Pastor Roxanne Gnatzig officiating, with visitation from 1:30-3:00 pm and Memorial service at 3:00 pm, followed by a reception at the Merrimac Fire Department. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial to the Merrimac United Methodist Church, where Betty was a devoted member for 68 years, or to Merrimac Fire and Rescue, which George helped establish.