Betty Skinner

Betty Ida Skinner, age 93, of Grantsburg, passed away on November 25, 2015. Betty was born September 30, 1922 to her loving parents, Ida and Stanley Clementson, where she was raised with six sisters on a family farm in Branstad. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church. She attended Branstad School through eighth grade and graduated from Grantsburg High School in 1940. She was united in marriage to Morris Skinner on December 27, 1941. (Morris was the local music director in Grantsburg Schools). They made their home in Grantsburg and had a good marriage which lasted 30 years until Morris died in 1971. They were blessed with five children: Christine, Martha, Sarah, Elizabeth and Peter. Betty was an avid reader who enjoyed a vast variety of well written books. One of her joys was discussing books with Pastor Myron Carlson, who also gave her recommendations on books he had read. Betty was a member of Faith Lutheran Church for many, many years. She was involved in the life of the church, welcoming members, new members and visitors, served on the church council and was active in Women of the ELCA. Betty worked in the Public Library which began in the basement of the old Larson Hardware and later when it moved to the old hospital building. Throughout the years, Betty did day-care for a number of children. She was an employee of Faith Lutheran Church for over 20 years. Betty loved the flowers, gardening for many years and enjoyed the birds coming to her many bird feeders. Family and friends were always welcomed with a hot cup of coffee and good conversation. She loved spending time with her children and their families and her sisters with whom she was very close. She was a loving and grateful woman and will be sadly missed and never forgotten. Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Morris; parents, Stanley and Ida Clementson; granddaughter, Emily Smith; sister, Velva Bauer; nephew, Kevin Cook; and five brother-in-laws. Betty is survived by her children, Christine (Gene) Larson, Martha (Seymour) Pederson, Sarah (Steve) Smith, Elizabeth (Greg) Bossany, Peter (Margaret) Skinner; grandchildren, Stephanie DeBuhr, Gina Barber, Tyler Smith, Jordan Smith and Gabriel Smith; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Beck, Isabella, Roman and Bennett; sisters, Ruby Cook, Dolores Johnson, Elayne Johnson, Marjorie Robinson, Deborah (Pepper) Clementson; goddaughter, Cilla Bauer; special "family", Bunny Johnson, Darcy Johnson, Libby Johnson and Lori Cullen; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A grave side Committal Service is scheduled for Friday, December 4, 2015 at 12:30PM at the Riverside Cemetery in Grantsburg. Following the Committal Service, friends are asked to join for a Celebration of Life for Betty at 2:00PM (visitation from 1:00PM to 2:00PM) at Faith Lutheran Church in Grantsburg. Pallbearers are Jim Erickson, Charley Peterson, John Dahlberg, Brent Blomberg, Craig Selander and Rick Erickson. Honorary Pallbearers are Tyler Smith, Jordan Smith, Gabriel Smith, Walfrid Johnson, Scott Cook, Kerry-Todd Cook and Rocky Cook. Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Grantsburg. Online condolences may be expressed at www.swedberg-taylor.com