Betty Dorene Stumpf

MIDDLETON-Lifelong Middleton resident, Betty D. Stumpf, age 75, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, at UW Hospital after an extremely short illness. She died from a rare form of cancer called Leiomyosarcoma. The illness was so short that Betty received the diagnosis on a Wednesday and died two days later. She was born on March 10, 1941, to the late Norma Niebuhr Forsmo and Hjalmar "Pete" Forsmo. Betty graduated from Middleton High School in 1959, where she played timpani, accordion, and was a baton twirler. Her high school locker combination was 44-30-19, which she proudly rattled off whenever she could work that into a conversation. Betty married Ray Stumpf of Cross Plains in 1966. She was proud of her Middleton roots. This was the first year Betty missed the Good Neighbor Festival parade since it began. How she was never nominated for a Good Neighbor Award, we'll never know. Betty was comforted over the years, and particularly in the just-passed difficult week, by a strong Christian faith having been a life-long, active member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Middleton. In June of 2016, she retired from Zimbrick of Madison, where she was the dealer trade coordinator, a job that she "inherited" from Ray after he died in 2013. One of Betty's greatest joys in life was spending time with her grandchildren. She took her first retirement in 1998 to be a full-time nana, a job she truly treasured. Betty was an avid Milwaukee Brewers fan and a long-time UW football and basketball season ticket holder. She was a kind and gentle soul. Betty had an infectious smile and was always quick to crack a joke. Whenever Betty was asked how she was doing, her response was always, "Nice". She loved sitting outside and enjoying the warm Wisconsin evenings with her neighbors. Betty found happiness in keeping her bird feeders full and keeping the squirrels out. She is survived by her two children; Brian Stumpf (Ashlee) and Shari (Tim) Taylor, both of Cross Plains; grandchildren, Jacob and Josh Stumpf of Middleton and Lydia Taylor of Cross Plains; sister, Arlene Seibel of Mitchell, S.D.; and brother, Charles Forsmo of Monona. Betty was also the parent of her dear dog, Franklin, who loved her very much. A memorial service will be held at ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday. The family wishes to thank the many doctors, nurses and staff of the UW Hospital and Clinics who treated Betty with the highest level of care that a patient could ask for. A special thank you also goes out to Don and Carolyn Denson of Middleton for all their help, love and support throughout the years. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 7435 University Avenue (608)831-6761