Elizabeth "Bette" J. Holten
Elizabeth (Bette) Holten age 94 of Menomonie, Wisconsin died Friday, April 18, 2025 at Eagan Pointe Senior Living in Eagan, Minnesota in the presence of her living children. After her family finished singing a going home song (Swing Low Sweet Chariot) together she passed peacefully shortly thereafter.
Bette was born June 12, 1930 in Emerald, Wisconsin. She was the second daughter to John and Rosella (Krenz) Klatt. Bette was a hard worker from a very young age. Early jobs included cleaning house for the banker’s wife, and working as the cashier at Oscar Gavic’s grocery store in Glenwood City where she added up totals with paper and pencil. (Trusted for being accurate.) She met her future husband when she was scrubbing the floor at her Aunt Rose (Klatt) Hilson’s farmhouse. He was there delivering a load of fence posts from his uncle’s place in rural Prairie Farm, Wisconsin. They later loved to go dancing at the White Owl in Emerald or the Grey Goose in Hersey. She graduated from Glenwood City High School in 1949.
Bette married Ray Holten September 10, 1949 at St. John Catholic Church in Glenwood City. They settled in Menomonie where Ray first found work hauling milk for Sanna Dairies. They raised six children in Menomonie and were active members of St. Joseph’s Catholic parish for 66 years. Bette was a wonderful cook, who made homemade meals all of the years her children were growing up. She was a reader of stories to children and grandchildren. A talented seamstress who made many clothes for her daughters, including a wedding dress, and lots of cozy quilts. Bette was a long-time employee of Sanna’s where she made lifelong friends. She enjoyed traveling and visited each of the lower 48 states. Bette had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening and house plants. In retirement, she and Ray, were seen walking daily on the State trail, and all around Menomonie. They enjoyed the flowers and landscaping on the UW Stout campus.
Bette is survived by three daughters Sandra (Ben) Athneil of Eagan, MN, Sheila Rivera, of Indianapolis, IN, Shirley Klitzke, of St. Paul, MN; a son Stephen (Lisa Napolitano) of Nokomis, FL; three granddaughters, Bethany Klitzke, of Minneapolis, MN, Joanna Klitzke of St. Paul, MN and Gabrielle Rivera of Spring, TX; grandsons Caleb Klitzke of Minneapolis, MN and Trevor Rivera of Indianapolis, IN. She had two great grandchildren, Isabella and Noah Jones, of Spring, TX. Additionally, she is survived by brother-in-law, Don Holten of Prairie Farm, WI, and cousin, Louis Hastert of Roseville, MN along with several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. The family historian states she is the longest living Klatt.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Ray, a daughter Susan, a son Scott; siblings, William, Joseph, Lawrence, Lucille and Mary.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday April 23, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Menomonie with Rev. John Mano officiation. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.