Elizabeth S. Shulenburg

1927 - 2016

Elizabeth (Betty) S. Shulenburg 1927 - 2016
DOLGEVILLE - Elizabeth (Betty) S. Shulenburg, 89, of 453 Shedd Road, Dolgeville, NY, passed away at home, with her family by her side, on February 15, 2016.
She was born on February 11, 1927, in the town of Salisbury, to Jesse Adolphus Shedd and Bessie Gertrude (Crowell) Shedd. Betty grew up on the Oakdale family farm on Shedd Road with her three sisters, parents and grandparents. She attended the one room schoolhouse on Hopson Road until 6th grade. Upon her graduation, she transferred to the Dolgeville school district where she was active in the chorus, performing with her beautiful soprano voice with operatic timbre, and in the school orchestra, playing the violin. Betty graduated from Dolgeville on June 25, 1944.
It was during the summer of her freshman year at Dolgeville School that she met her high school sweetheart, Stuart Shulenburg. They were united in marriage on December 22, 1946, at the United Methodist Church in Dolgeville with the Rev. James A. Sypher, local pastor, the Rev. George Skinner, great-uncle of the bride, and Rev. G. Vaughn Shedd, uncle of the bride, officiating. They were blessed with 68 wonderful years of marriage.
Betty was employed by the Daniel Green Company for 30 years, retiring in 1990. While at Daniel Green, she was a "Jill of all trades." Betty was in charge of the Sales and Quality Control Department and trained as an EMT to serve as the nurse for 24 years. In addition, she was responsible for the creation of the Daniel Green Outlet Store and the curator of the Daniel Green Company Museum.
The outlet store began in Plant #3 outside of Betty's office selling to the employees, at a reduced cost, a new suede winter boot that did not pass her "first class" quality control test. Eventually the sale was expanded to include slippers and shoes that did not pass the test. The sales became so popular that the store was moved across the street (currently Van Billings' office) and was opened to the public. When tour buses started to include the outlet on their stops, Mr.Reardon moved the store to the Village Shop (currently Dr. Haas' office) to provide a "classier" location.
Due to Betty's creative touch, the DanielGreen Museum received public acclaim, as well. As a member of the 1976 Bicentennial Committee, Betty wanted the Daniel Green Company to be represented at the Bicentennial, so she set up a small display in the front of the outlet store. The simple display of felt boots and slippers from the 1800's turned into a formal museum six years later with a Grand Opening in 1982. Many from all over the US visited the museum and Betty would give tours recounting the history of the felt slipper. Each year during the Violet Festival, she would also give tours to the local 4th and 5th grade students. As curator of the museum, Betty was asked to create displays for the Industrial Show at Herkimer County Community College and the New York State Museum in Albany. Betty was very proud of the museum and stated it was a "very exciting" time in her life. After the sale of the Daniel Green Company, members of the Dolgeville-Manheim Historical Society, including Betty, salvaged many of the artifacts from the main display cases in the museum and restored the displays for the Dolgeville-Manheim Museum.
As a life-long member of the Dolgeville United Methodist Church, Betty served in every capacity. She was the Sunday school superintendent; Sunday school teacher for 30 years; youth group leader with her husband, Stuart; worship chair; pastor-parish relations chair; communion steward; United Methodist Women treasurer; wedding and funeral coordinator; and member of the memorial and historical committees. Betty sang in the choir for 75 years and was director for 55 years. She shared her love of music and her beautiful voice as she sang for weddings, funerals, and the ecumenical choir. Betty will be remembered for her elaborate Christmas pageants; her beautiful floral arrangements, some of which still grace the church today; her famous chicken barbeque sauce; and her roles in the musical reviews, especially Miss Piggy. She loved spending time at the church and you could find her there any time of the day or night. Betty devoted her life to serving God and her church. In 2002, Stuart and Betty were recognized during "Special Person Sunday" for their years of service and were honored by having the church dining room dedicated as the Shulenburg Fellowship Hall.
Betty was also a 62-year member of the Auskerada Chapter #204 Order of the Eastern Star. She sang during their meetings and helped serve at the many suppers for the Masons. She will be remembered for her beautiful decorations each year at the Masonic Washington Banquets.
Not only was Betty a faithful servant in her church and the Eastern Star, she was a servant in the community of Dolgeville, as well. She received the Rotary Bell Community Award in 1987, and she and her husband were the 7th recipients of the Lyndon Lyon Community Award in 2006. Both awards were in recognition of her service to the community.
A special hobby and passion for Betty was flower arranging and decorating. She loved to work with silk flowers and decorated her church and her home with bouquets and wreaths for every holiday and season. She also decorated for many weddings, from creating elaborate wedding cakes to beautiful bridal party bouquets and boutonnieres for her daughters and nieces. Betty was very artistic and enjoyed drawing and writing poetry, as well.
Betty is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Phyllis Spinner and Jeffrey Whittemore and Jeanette and Thomas Antonoff of Dolgeville; her grandchildren, Brent and Michelle Spinner of Baldwinsville, NY, Bryan and Christine Spinner of Clifton Park, NY, Thomas, Jr., and Suzanne Antonoff of Spokane, WA, and Nicole and Michael Porter of Greenville, NY; her great-grandchildren, Michael and Olivia Spinner, Sarah and Kaitlin Spinner, and Natalie and Bethany Antonoff; her sisters, Evelyn Darling, Esther Devost and Edythe Darling; and many wonderful nieces, nephews and dear friends. Her loving husband, Stuart, predeceased her on April 4, 2015.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at 11 AM in the Dolgeville United Methodist Church, 21 N. Helmer Ave., Dolgeville, with Pastor Jack Ford officiating. Members of the Eastern Star will participate in the beginning of the service. A reception will follow in the Shulenburg Fellowship Hall for family and friends. There will be no public calling hours. Spring interment will take place at the Rural Park Cemetery in Inghams Mills.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Betty's memory may be made to the Dolgeville United Methodist Church, 21 N. Helmer Ave., Dolgeville, NY 13329. Envelopes will be available at the church.
Our family would like to thank Dr. Handy and Dr. Freund and all of the staff on the 3rd floor of the Little Falls Hospital for their wonderful care of Betty. We would also like to thank Hospice, in particular Judy and Elena. We were very blessed to have such wonderful caregivers.
To leave a message of sympathy, please visit www.millerplonkafuneralhome.com and sign the guest book.