Betty J. Callan

Betty Jane Callan, 90 of Onalaska, WI passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at Gundersen Health Systems in La Crosse.

Betty was born August 26, 1929 to Morris and Georgina (Larson) Johnson. She married James M. Callan, Jr. on November 12, 1950 in McAlester, Oklahoma. They shared 61 wonderful years together travelling throughout the US including Alaska and Hawaii.

Betty was a devoted wife, a caring mother and doting Grandmother to 13 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. She will be lovingly remembered for her kindness, generosity, Hallmark Cards, apple pie slices and Swedish tea rings. She loved lunch with the children and grandchildren, Belgian waffles, watching the Packers, Badgers, Cubs, Brewers, and The Young and the Restless. A good poker game with her brothers and Uno and Phase 10 with her grandkids was also an enjoyment. She loved the trips to Seattle to see her sisters and their families. She enjoyed Jimmy’s fresh grilled oysters at Taylor Shellfish Farm while visiting her sisters in Washington. She was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Betty had a wonderful sense of humor. When asked how tall she was, she loved to say 5’3” with a wink. “I am really only 5’2-1/2” but always wanted to be taller.”

Betty was a giant in the eyes of all that knew her, full of life and love.

She is survived by, four children, Michael (Karen), Douglas (Marsha), Paul (Kathy) and Cathy (Mike) Allison; son-in-law, Terry Erickson; honorary daughter Brenda (Paul) Mendell; 13 grandchildren, Michael (Traci) Wallen, Heidi (Chad) Austreng, Ryan (Autumn) Callan, Heather (Josh Dedie) Smith, Justin (Christina) Callan, Kelly Callan, Erin Callan, Brandon (Christina) Erickson, Amber (Nicholas) McNeely, Melissa (Scott) Gabrielson, Joshua (Lynn) Erickson, Alia Allison (Ryan Kulig) and Patrick Callan; 23 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley Pishaw and Dee Simmons of Washington; and four brothers, Charles Johnson, Jerry (Diane) Johnson, Duane (Beth) Johnson and George (Pack) Johnson of Illinois. Betty was preceded in death by her husband James (2012); daughter Debi Erickson (2013); infant son Matthew (1960); brother Robert Johnson and sister Marian Johnson.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Ona Terrace for their kindness and special care during her stay there.

Betty was born at the beginning of the Great Depression and died during pandemic but she would want you to know that the years between were full of the Sweetest of Love and the Joy of Life.

A private visitation was held on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at Schumacher Kish Funeral Home in La Crosse. Graveside service and entombment took place at the Garden of Peace Mausoleum in Mormon Coulee Park.