Betty Payne

Betty B. Payne, 77, died Fri. Dec. 11, 2015 at Manor Care Health Services in Fond du Lac, Wis. She was born October 16, 1938 in Watertown, Wis., a daughter of the late David J. and Betty (Bohl) Payne of Nashville, Tenn. and Sarasota, Fla., respectively. Betty attended Milwaukee-Downer College (now Lawrence Univ.) and graduated from Vanderbilt University. She worked for the Girl Scouts of the USA for five years, the last three years as Executive Director of the old Wau-Bun Council bringing her to Fond du Lac in 1964. From then until her retirement, she was employed as a Social Studies teacher at Goodrich High School. Betty was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, singing in the choir, giving tours of the historic building and teaching Christian Education classes. She also served as a member of the governing chapter. Betty was the first female at that traditional church to serve as a lector and intercessor at High Mass.



Betty was known in the community for her musical interests in Community Theatre and the old Fond du Lac Oratorio Chorus. The delight of her life came in a successful portrayal of “Bloody Mary” in the local presentation of South Pacific 40 years ago. She loved to travel, read and stitch with her friends.



She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Dan (Nancy) Payne of Atlanta, Ga; two sisters, Sally Rotella of Cincinnati, OH and Judy (Frank) Mason of San Francisco, Calif.. Surviving Betty is her extended family. She was extraordinarily proud of her 10 nieces, nephews and their spouses, boring her friends with details, a bad habit that had carried over to her 17 grandnieces and nephews.



At the request of the family, services were not immediately held. Cremation has taken place. A private family memorial will occur at a later date.



Memorials may be made in her honor to any of the following: South Shore Chorale (formerly the Fond du Lac Oratorio Chorus), Fond du Lac High School Scholarship Fund, Fond du Lac Public Library, the Humane Society and/or your choice that you know would bring her joy.



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