Betty H. Wickert

Betty often shared memories including one when at the age of 5, during the Great Depression, she and her family drove across the country to Redding, CA. Her parents opened a gas station and family store on the way to Shasta Mountain.

While at Shasta Union High School, Betty was the pitcher for the girls’ softball team when Bill Wickert first saw her. He arranged with a friend to meet her. During WWII Bill joined the Navy who sent him to Harvard to earn an MBA. Betty traveled by train from Redding, CA to Boston, MA and they were married on July 1, 1944, at the Old South Church, Boston, MA.

Education

1942 - Shasta Union High School, Redding, CA

1975 - Manatee Junior College, Bradenton, FL – Associate in Arts degree

1978 - New College, Sarasota, FL

1978 – University of Florida, Tallahassee

1981 - California State University, East Bay (Hayward) – Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Arts

Betty always wanted a college degree. She earned it working over several years, graduating from California State University in Hayward, CA. She was 55 years old. As an older student while at Manatee Junior College, Betty was highly active in the theater group and acted in "The Seagull,” and “Three Sisters" by Anton Chekhov...

Betty was always active. She loved gardening and planted lots of trees and flowers. She and Bill used to hunt and fish together in the early years. She was quite athletic and even got a perfect 300 bowling. She was pretty good at golf, as well, but her real love was art. Betty took art classes throughout her life.

For many years after 1972 Bill had been in poor health. He eventually required a respirator. Betty wanted him brought from the hospital in San Antonnio to their home in Kerrville, Texas. There was a problem with the respirator in the ambulance that transported him, and he arrived turning blue. Betty “bagged” him for hours until a respiratory specialist arrived. Betty and daughter Lisa maintained his life support for several years. This was extremely difficult and emotionally draining.

After Bill passed away, Lisa suggested that Betty get a dog for company and protection. Betty decided to get a Basset Hound and named her Hannah. Even though there had been many pets over the years in the family, Betty claimed that Hannah was her first very own pet. She loved Hannah very much, even though the police arrived periodically because of Hannah’s howling.

Betty is Preceded in death by, after 58 years of marriage, Emil William “Bill” Wickert (07/08/1923 - 05/11/2001). 4 children: Allison Bohuslav (Bruce Bohuslav), Lake Geneva, WI; Douglas Emil Wickert (Barbara Wickert), Ocala, FL; Suzanne Kosko (John W Kosko, Jr.), Bexley, OH; Lisa Jenne, Sula, MT

9 grandchildren: Cheryl Boness, Loveland, CO; Matthew Wickert (Tina Wickert), Maryville, TN; Jeffrey Wickert (Jennifer Wickert), Salado, TX; Michelle Craft, Middleton WI; Dawn Craft, Wrightstown, WI; Shane Jenne (Jessica Jenne), Stevensville, MT; Wesley Kosko, Sioux City, IA; John W Kosko III, (Ashley Kosko), Elizabethton, TN; Elizabeth Kosko, Albuquerque, NM;

16 great-grandchildren: Robert Boness-Ortiz; Ryan and Brennan Wickert; Evelyn and Benjamin Wickert; Ethan Craft; Gavin, Rowan, and Lincoln Vander Steen; Anderson Craft; Austin, Naomi and Logan Jenne; Ethan Calhoun; John W Kosko IV and Aidan Kosko.

Betty was known for her love and loyalty to her family. She was always proud of, supportive and encouraging them to achieve their goals. She will be missed.