Elizabeth "Betty" M. Bard

MADISON-Elizabeth Mary "Betty" Bard, age 91, of Monona, passed away on Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, at Agrace HospiceCare.  She was born on June 24, 1926, in Winona, Minn., the daughter of Thomas and Hazel (Savoy) Carroll. Betty grew up in Huron, S.D. and had a great love for the plains and the big sky.  She was engaged to John C. Bard, her high school sweetheart when she was just 15 years old and they married on Sept. 1, 1947, after John’s service in the U.S. Air Corps during WWII.  They lived in a little apartment in Huron, S.D. and later in a Quonset hut in Ames, Iowa while John finished school, worked in a shoe store and played his saxophone in a jazz band.  Betty enjoyed listening to the band and shared John’s love of music and ballroom dance.  Later they lived in Davenport, Iowa and in Madison, Wis., while John worked for Oscar Mayer. Throughout their marriage, John and Betty returned to South Dakota frequently to visit and care for family and to enjoy the bliss of driving the back roads spotting pheasant and red wing blackbirds. Betty was a cookie baking, devoted full-time mom.  She and John had three children; Liz born on Labor Day, Jack born on April Fool’s Day and Kate born at Thanksgiving. She was a meticulous housekeeper, a talented seamstress and knitter and an enthusiastic “re-decorator.”  She had an adventurous spirit and loved camping, fishing, canoe trips, snorkeling in the Caribbean and winter trips to Sanibel, Fla. She was in heaven in her own yard with a hat on her head, a fan blowing the mosquitoes away and her hands in the dirt.  She worked in her gardens on her hands and knees every day spring through fall through her 90th year.  She also loved playing bridge, especially with her IHM partners.  In 1997, after 50 years of marriage, John and Betty renewed their vows at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.  They were lifetime members of the parish, actively supporting the growth of the church and school which all three of their children attended. Beloved son, Jack Bard preceded Betty in death on Valentine’s Day in 2001, and husband, John preceded her in death in March of 2003.  On Sept. 13, 2008, she married Bill Pschorr, who had lost his wife Audrey a few years before and had also been a longtime member of Immaculate Heart.  Bill and Betty treasured the memories of times past and the present moments of spending their lives together.  Betty is survived by her second husband, Bill; daughters, Elizabeth "Liz" Bard and Kate (Patrick) Laritson; grandsons, Carlos and John Everman, Hank and Matt Laritson; Bill's four children, especially Nancy Pschorr and Barb (Bob) King; beloved nieces and nephews, Linda Carroll Crawford, Jean (Rob) Hamilton, Tom (Dawn) Carroll, Jim and Bob Carroll and family, children and grandchildren; and dear friends, Hattie Stevens, Rodie Siebert and the Tom (Monique) Laritson family.  Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son; mother-in-law, Phebe Bard; step-father, Henry Vonderharr; brother, Tom (Helen) Carroll; sister, Brigid Carroll; step-brother, John Vonderharr; son-in-law, Welch Everman; and South Dakota kindred spirit, Mary Klitzman.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017.  Interment will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park with a luncheon to follow at the IHM school cafeteria.  Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday.  Memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary School Endowment Fund and Agrace HospiceCare.  A special thank you to Dr. Gina Utrie and to the kind doctors and staff at St. Mary’s Hospital, the care teams at Oak Park, and Agrace HospiceCare for their compassion and gentle support.  Thank you to Father Chad M. Droessler for his blessings and to the church ladies of IHM for the comfort of their hospitality.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.Gunderson EastFuneral & Cremation Care5203 Monona Drive608-221-5420