Betty Louise (Knutson) Leef, 91, was born on May 14, 1932, to Mary (Cairns) and Bert Knutson at home in Sand Lake Township, Burnett County, Wisconsin. She passed away at her home on Aug. 14, 2023.
When Betty was 4, she walked with her brother Norman to the North Sand Lake School on Gaslyn Road. Later when the school closed, they went to the Mattson School where she graduated from the eighth grade. Because of a lack of transportation to high school in Webster, she graduated from high school with her high school diploma from the American School of Correspondence.
Betty always enjoyed dancing and she met her future husband, Russell Leef, at a dance. Later they were married in Pine City, Minnesota, on Jan. 11, 1949. To this union, two daughters were born. Connie was born on their fifth wedding anniversary and they welcomed Karen on Nov. 5, almost 22 months later.
Betty helped her parents on the farm and Betty worked at many jobs throughout her life. She worked as a waitress, a store clerk, at Doerr Electric and as a census worker. She worked for Searles and the Midwest Cranberry Marshes. She was the treasurer for Rusk Township and later was the clerk for Rusk Township. For the last 12 years of her working career she was a rural mail carrier for the Webster Post Office. She was a dedicated caregiver for her husband, Russell, and her mother, Mary. She enjoyed embroidering and entered many projects at the fair, such as the many dresses she sewed without a pattern. She also enjoyed cooking and baking. Betty and Russell raised many big gardens and Betty did a lot of canning. She also sewed Karen’s flower girl dress without a pattern for a cousin’s wedding. Betty enjoyed watching the birds and deer in her yard. She also had black bear on her front steps more than once. She enjoyed watching the boats on the lake and visiting the boaters who came in close to the dock. Betty enjoyed hosting Fourth of July picnics for many years.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Bert and Mary (Cairns) Knutson; husband, Russell; daughter, Karen Ennis; brother, Norman Knutson; brother-in-law, Lenard Leef; and nephew, Donald Knutson.
She is survived by her daughter, Connie (Keith) Crosby; son-in-law, Tom Ennis; grandchildren, Tom B. (Joanie) Ennis and Keri (Luke) Robotti; great-grandchildren, Havanna, Ayden and Haylie Robotti, and Lauralie and Gunner Ennis; sister-in-law, Nancy Knutson; nieces, Kathy (Phil) Ingram and Norma Buck; many cousins and other relatives.
Funeral service was held on Monday, Aug. 21, at Grace United Methodist Church in Webster. Interment was at the Spooner Cemetery in Spooner.
Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster. Online condolences can be made at swedberg-taylor.com.
