Elizabeth "Betty" A Guy

COTTAGE GROVE - Born in Madison to Elsie (Wall) and William Edwin Blaney, Betty grew up on the family’s Blaney Seed Corn farm, where faith and hard work went hand in hand. A graduate of Edgewood High School, she became a postulant with the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Though stepping away before becoming a nun, Betty never stepped away from God. Her threadbare Bibles, handwritten notes throughout, told that story better than words ever could. How fitting she died on Good Friday; her Easter gift arrived early.

Betty met James JW Guy Jr. at the University of Wisconsin’s Newman Club, where dancing, shared values, and laughter brought them together. They were married at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church on September 15, 1962. Wasting no time, they welcomed four children in a span of five years. As a young mother, Betty devoted herself to the children, often taking them to the park or the beach while Jim traveled farm to farm selling Blaney Seed Corn.

In 1971, after building their forever home in Cottage Grove, Betty bravely earned her first driver’s license and promptly put it to good use, pouring herself into the community as a Sunday school teacher, t-ball coach, Lioness member, and 4-H leader.

Over the years, Betty and Jim opened their doors to more than 20 exchange students, turning strangers from around the world into lifelong extended families. Valuing travel, they visited almost all 50 states and five continents passing along the legacy and love of travel to their children and grandchildren.

Later in life, Betty retrained and worked as a home health aide, caring for the elderly. She also enjoyed calligraphy, genealogy, and scrapbooking, making keepsakes for her adored eight grandchildren and staying closely connected to the Blaney family through the Swan Creek Sewing Circle monthly meetings.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James J.W. Guy Jr.; brother, Richard Blaney; sister and brother-in-law, Carol (Al) Kais; her beloved aunt, Ruth; along with Jim's parents and siblings, Elizabeth Jane Guy, Isabel Beedle, Josephine Ashbaker, Johanna Seley, Alice Parker and Donald Guy.

She is survived by her children, Theresa (David) Ness, Mary Guy, Catherine (Scott) Tyink and James (Margaret) Guy III; grandchildren, Andrew (Palm) Tyink, Austin (Madison) Tyink, Erica Ness, Leah Ness, Johnathan Guy, Sarah Guy, June Guy and Michael Guy; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Blaney and Geri Zlesak; as well as five brothers-in-law, Charles (Margaret) Guy, John (Geri) Guy, Richard (Ruth) Guy, Mike (Mary) Guy and Pat Guy; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers at Willowbrook and Brookside facility for their attention and loving care during Betty’s final chapter of life. They made a difficult situation easier.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 434 N. Main St., Cottage Grove, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with Father Michael Tarigopula presiding. Burial will take place at St. Patrick Cemetery in Cottage Grove. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday.

Memorials in Betty’s name may be directed to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation: https://wlf.info/. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420