Thelma Jane Betzold

Thelma Jane Betzold passed away peacefully in her rural Amery, Wisconsin home surrounded by the love of family members on March 26, 2026, at the age of 86.

She was born to Francis Melvin Tiden and Margaret Bowe Tiden on November 12, 1939, in Sciota Township, Dakota County, Minnesota at their farmhouse. Her sister, Frannie, welcomed her. Thelma learned to love animals, care for them, and to work hard. She attended school in Dakota County, MN and in Conway, Arkansas.

Thelma met Merle Betzold at the Dakota County fairground. After tripping Merle at the roller-skating rink in Farmington, MN, they started dating. It was a spring to fall romance. Thelma and Merle married on October 3, 1959, at Faith United Methodist Church in Farmington, MN. Together with Merle's brothers, they farmed, raising pigs, registered Holsteins and Brown Swiss cows. Four children: Shan, Sheldon, Gwen and Gretchen completed this family. In 1977, Thelma and Merle moved to Amery, where they bought a farm and continued raising pigs, registered Holsteins, and Brown Swiss with the help of their children. Thelma continued to lovingly care for and feed the calves until she was 80 years old.

Thelma will be remembered for her playfulness and giggles, her kindness and generosity, and her love and commitment to faith, family, farming and her community. She was an active member of Amery Congregational Church. Thelma helped with church camp and Sunday school, and she loved to sing with children. She wrote letters to each member of the Habitat for Humanity Mission Trip team, to which she attached scriptural stickers. Thelma donated money for the team to enjoy Dairy Queen treats at the end of a workday. She also assisted in creating quilts for the new homeowners.

Thelma supported the Amery community. She bought only from local merchants whenever possible. Thelma wrote positive letters to the editor of the Amery Free Press, praising our public library and school concerts and plays. She was involved in 4-H as a leader for many years. Thelma also served on the Amery Area Food Pantry board. She supported FFA and the Amery Band Boosters. Thelma taught children about dairy farming as a guest speaker at Lien Elementary School, until the second-grade students began taking a field trip to her dairy farm in 2005. Thelma encouraged the children to try on calf jackets and go inside calf huts.

Thelma belonged to the Apple River Quilt Guild for decades. She was known to gift many people with colorful quilted pot holders, bibs, and baby quilts, which always incorporated cow fabric. Thelma also sewed pillowcases out of interesting fabrics.

Thelma enjoyed feeding and watching wildlife, from birds, squirrels and raccoons, to turkeys, deer, and an occasional bear.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin Tiden and Margaret Sellers, her husband, Merle Betzold, and her sister, Frances "Frannie" Padgett, as well as her brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and several nephews and nieces. Left to love and remember Thelma are her sons: Shan (Nancy) Betzold and Sheldon (Vicki) Betzold, and her daughters: Gwen (Rick) Dado and Gretchen (Ted) Johnson. Thelma loved her 12 grandchildren and 3 bonus grandchildren. They are Haeli (Clint) Turner, Brielle (Brady) Khalar, Kelsey (Howie) Monteith, Britney (Mark) Wolverton, Thad Betzold, Aleksander (Abigail) Keller-Betzold, Bethany (Travis) Senn, Ethan (Chris Danner) Dado, Trent (Mykayla) Dado, and Meikah (Mauricio Mondragon) Dado, Hans (Catherine) Johnson, Hannah (Zach) Barton, Derek (Allison) Salzman, Brenda (Michaela) Salzman, and Brady (Jonell Lauck) Salzman. There are 27 little pumpkin seeds (great-grandchildren). Thelma is also survived by sisters-in-law: Phyllis Betzold and Diane Olson, and two cousins: Carol James (Michael Moss) and Casey (Margaret) Christian, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery on Friday, April 3, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. There will also be a visitation at the Amery Congregational Church one hour before Thelma's Celebration of Life, which begins at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. Haeli Turner, Brielle Khalar, Kelsey Monteith, Britney Wolverton, Thad Betzold, Aleksander Keller-Betzold, Abigail Betzold, Bethany Senn, Ethan Dado, Trent Dado, Meikah Dado, Hans Johnson and Hannah Barton will serve as pallbearers. Following the service, a light lunch will be served in the church fellowship hall. A private, family interment will be at the East Lincoln Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Thelma may be made to Amery Congregational Church or the Amery Area Food Pantry. Please treat everyone with kindness and shop in Amery to honor Thelma's life.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Thelma Jane Betzold, please click here to visit our sympathy store.