Betty L. (Lee) Zimmerman

Betty L. Zimmerman, age 94, of Geneva, passed away Saturday, July 20, 2024 at Greenfields of Geneva with her loving family by her side.

She was born Betty Joy Lee on August 15, 1929, in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, the daughter of Arnold and Birdella (Huseth) Lee.

Betty’s father was a dairy farmer so she grew up in and around the Madison area, graduating from East High in 1947.  She was the youngest of 4 siblings: sister Dorothy and 2 brothers, Norton and Laverne.  Betty was very close to Laverne and devastated by his death in Okinawa, Japan in May, 1945. 

Betty met her husband Robert Zimmerman on New Years Eve 1945 when he was on leave from the Merchant Marines.  They corresponded until he completed his service and then dated while he began engineering study at the University of Wisconsin.  They were married July 14, 1948.

Betty dedicated her life to supporting her husband throughout his career which moved the family from Madison to Chicago to Alexandria, VA to Spokane, WA, and to Medellin, Colombia.  She was a skilled homemaker who often took on leading roles with her children’s activities at school, in scouts, and at church.  She was an accomplished seamstress, a quilter and a talented ceramics instructor.  She and Robert played bridge, square danced and traveled extensively over the years.

Betty will be remembered as a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who loved her family and exemplified excellence and commitment in all of her endeavors.  She was a woman of character who loved Jesus and lived a life of service to others.

She is survived by her children Sheila (Brad) Philo of Wheaton, Susan Bassett of Austin, Texas, and Cal (Linda) Zimmerman of Crystal Lake; grandchildren Chandra (Tim) Nybroten, Megan (Erik) Henning, Ryan (Kim) Philo, Eric Stahl, Aaron (Denise) Stahl, Allison (Scott) North, and Kyle Zimmerman and Stefanie Preston, Todd (Maria) Zimmerman, and Sally (Brad) Orlando; great grandchildren Hannah and Joshua Nybroten, Christian, and Grant Henning, Sydney and Samantha Philo, and Kayleigh, Myla, Arlo and Davis North and Logan Orlando; and many other dear relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her parents Arnold & Birdella Lee, her siblings, Dorothy Dahlk, Norton Lee and Laverne Lee.

A visitation for Betty will be held Wednesday, July 24 from 9:30 am until the time of her funeral service at 10:30 am at Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 S. 3rd Street, Geneva, with Pastor Wendy West officiating. 

Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park in Monona, Wisconsin.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD  21741 or give.michaeljfox.org/give/421686/#!/donation/checkout would be appreciated.

Arrangements handled by the Malone Funeral Home in Geneva.  For information 630-232-8233 or visit www.malonefh.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Betty L. (Lee) Zimmerman, please visit our floral store.