Betty Mae Kirchman

Betty Mae Kirchman, age 89 went to her heavenly home on Thursday, February 29th following complications of a severe stroke and once again is reunited with her beloved Dale who passed away just six months ago.

Betty (who really loved when you called her Elizabeth) was born on December 2, 1934, in a log house in the Town of Gardner, Door County to Raphael and Margaret (Bouche) Kaye. She was baptized on Christmas Day at Precious Blood Church. She confirmed her Lutheran faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Algoma in April 1955.

Betty’s parents moved to Casco when she was a young child and was her parents “hired hand” for all the farm chores.  She graduated from Casco High School in 1952. She worked for a time at the Red Owl offices in Green Bay. On October 1, 1955, she was married to Dale Kirchman at the parsonage of St. John’s. They were blessed with a daughter, Kathy Ann and made their home in Rio Creek. Dale and Betty moved back to Casco in 1966 due to her mother’s early death and took over her father's farm.

Betty was proud of her Belgian heritage and visited the home of her Grandmother Kaye in Belgium.  She was a bus driver for the Luxemburg-Casco School District for over 21 years,  loved the outdoors, her flowers and garden, baking homemade bread and Belgian pies. She also enjoyed bowling and playing cards with aunts, uncles and friends. And she loved listening to Dale play the piano and keyboard. She and Dale enjoyed traveling with friends in their retirement years. Betty was also a member of St. John’s Ladies Aid and did charity work making quilts for World Relief and volunteering at the Bethesda Thrift Shop in Green Bay.

Betty is survived by their daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Glen Smith (the son she always wished for), cousins and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dale, her parents Raphael & Margaret, stepmother Milda, parents-in-law Edward & Irma Kirchman, in-laws Janice and Mel Wians, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Family and friends may visit at St. John’s Lutheran Church, E5221 Church Rd. Algoma (Rankin) on Monday, March 4, 2024, beginning at 9 a.m. The funeral service will be at 11:00 with the Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson officiating. Burial is at the Evergreen Cemetery, Algoma. Online Condolence messages may be shared at KinnardFCS.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. John’s Lutheran Church are appreciated.