Elizabeth Hendrickson

Hendrickson, Elizabeth "Betsy"

Elizabeth "Betsy" Hendrickson, Allouez, whose heart murmur deflected her plans for becoming a nurse, succumbed on Wednesday, March 06, 2013, at the age of 89 when her heart murmured its last whisper. She was born in Rhinelander on July 12, 1923, to the late Andrew and Ethel (Maidlow) Brann. Andrew died when Elizabeth was seven and she was raised in Lake Geneva by her adventuresome, independent mother with the help of an extended family of aunts and uncles, particularly Ethel's sister Grace, and her husband Perc Council. Betsy was proud of her Door County roots. She loved being with family and friends at the family cottage along the shores of Lake Michigan in Baileys Harbor.

Betsy went on to receive a bachelor's degree in Chemistry at The University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she belonged to Crucible, Mortar Board, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and Phi Kappa Phi. She was also elected a Badger Beauty in 1943.

On June 14, 1947, after finishing graduate school at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., Betsy married Philip Hendrickson, who was in his last semester at Harvard Business School. Together they formed a loving, giving team.

She and Phil moved to Green Bay in 1950 where they raised a family of three children, made lasting friendships and made significant contributions to the community as volunteers and philanthropists.

Her many community credits include her service on the boards of the YWCA, Heritage Hill, Brown County Unified Board, Children's Service Society, Church Women United board, United Way, Green Bay Symphony Guild, Green Bay Service League, Howe School, American Cancer Society, past president of P.E.O., Congressional Committee for Service Academy Selections, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and held many roles with the United Methodist Church.

Education always was in the forefront, which led to strong ties with the University of Wisconsin campuses at Green Bay and Madison and St. Norbert College. At UWGB she served on the Board of Visitors, Chancellor's Board of Trustees and in 1987 established the Philip J. and Elizabeth B. Hendrickson Professorship for Business. In addition Betsy pursued a master's degree in human services at the UWGB in 1979

During her career, Betsy received many honors in recognition of her volunteer work. They include the Fort Howard Paper Foundation Humanitarian Award, the UWGB Chancellor's Award, YWCA Women of Vision Award, and the UWGB Distinguished Alumni Award and the Outstanding Lifetime Philanthropy Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northeast Wisconsin chapter.

In 1998 an endowed scholarship was established at Bellin School of Nursing. When their daughter, Mary Heather Johnson, died of melanoma, the family established an annual skin cancer screening day in her memory. The MHJ Foundation, named in her memory funded The American Cancer Society Mary Hendrickson Johnson Melanoma Professorship.

Betsy is survived by her husband of 65 years, Philip; son, Scott (Jan) Hendrickson of Port Washington, and daughter Sara (Chris) Fortune of Madison. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Andrew and Emily Hendrickson, Heather Fortune, Kelly (Mike) Boettcher, Emma (Conner) Cowling, and Wiley Fortune; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Heather Hendrickson Johnson; sister-in-law, LTJG Odette Marie Davis and brother-in-law, RADM John B. Davis.

Family and friends may call Sunday, March 10, 2013, at Newcomer Funeral Home, 340 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay from 4:00pm until 7:00pm. A funeral service will be celebrated on Monday at First United Methodist Church, 501 Howe St., Green Bay at 10:00am with Rev. Dave Wilkinson officiating. Burial will be in Bailey's Harbor. To leave a message for Betsy's family please visit, www.NewcomerGreenBay.com.

Betsy had great empathy for the poor; reaching out with a helping hand was her way of living. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Heritage Hill, Bellin School of Nursing, or First United Methodist Church.

Betsy's family would like to extend a special thank you to the staffs of Unity Hospice and Home Instead, especially Mary Lou Lee, Karen Gage, and Mike Wilmet.