Betty Lou (Schamberger) Davis

Betty Lou (Schamberger Zeltner) Davis, age 80 of Chetek, after a brief battle with cancer, passed away peacefully Monday, October 3, 2016 with her family by her side.  She was born November 12, 1935, in Stockton, Illinois. She was the daughter of Esther (Lola Studebaker) and Harold L. Schamberger.

After a fond and active childhood in Stockton, Betty proudly moved to Denver, CO to attend college. While there, she met and later married Ted Zeltner, originally of Minneapolis. Shortly after their first child was born, they moved to Seattle where they had three more children over the next 6 years. The family spent many happy summers on the lake in Chetek, where Betty helped her parents run the Morning Sun Resort on Lake Pokegama.
 

Betty returned to the Stockton area in 1963 and raised her four children while managing the Mr. Chipper Drive Inn in Mount Carroll, IL for several years. There, she met Bruno Davis (Davidaitis). They married and later moved the family to Aledo, IL, and then finally settled in Chetek in 1969. After purchasing North-Land Dairy, the entire family participated in its operation with Betty running early morning routes along with billing and office management. She also worked several years for Dr. Dale Jacobson. In 1980, Betty began a 23-year career in the insurance office at Barron Memorial Medical Center. Once the children were out of the house, Betty and Bruno spent a great deal of time together taking short trips around the US with their camper, enjoying the scenery and experiencing this great country she loved so much.

Betty was proud of her participation with the United Methodist Church in Chetek, including time spent as Church Secretary. She was “old school” (some say stubborn), but at the same time always offered encouragement and advice to those she saw struggling. She was defiantly proud of her family and close friends, and selflessly devoted much of her life caring for her family, exemplified by providing 20 years of continuous in-home care in recent years for her mother Esther until her passing in 2012.

Betty was a great cook. Along with many other items, she made some of the best home-made chicken soup, beef and noodles, barbecue ribs and potato salad found on this earth. She enjoyed her many wonderful flower and vegetable gardens along with the beautiful view of Lake Chetek from her home. Deer every night, an occasional bear and many smaller animals made siting in her yard a true pleasure. Nothing gave her more pride and enjoyment than watching her beautiful grand and great-grand children as they grew. No matter where they were, she always seemed to know what they were up to.

Betty is survived by her children; Kent (Jihan) Zeltner of Vail, Colorado, Steve (Connie) Zeltner of Winchester, Virginia, Deanna Humphrey of Chetek and Alan (Joan) Zeltner of Chetek, grandchildren; Stephenie (Jason), Zachary, Teresa, Nicole, Ashley, Tashauna, Matthew, Jennifer great grandchildren; Parker, Caitlyn, Mia, Tate, Mikayla.  Betty is also survived by one brother Eugene (Helen) Schamburger of Stockton, Illinois.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Esther, husband, Bruno,  brother Melvin, angel infant brother Bobby and angel infant great-grandson Colin.

Betty and Bruno were among the small group of parents who helped form and manage the original Hydroflites Ski Club in the mid-1970's. Betty loved watching her children and so many others water ski with the Chetek Hydroflites and often helped fund memberships for kids in need of such help, happy to give them the extra opportunity to grow and develop in a healthy, challenging, and positive environment as they improved their life skills. She often tracked their later successes as they moved on in their lives. To remember or honor her, memorials may be sent to the Hydroflites Site Renovation Fund PO Box 68, Chetek.

Betty and her family encourage everyone to be screened on a regular basis for Colon Cancer, which is a treatable condition with early detection.

A Family and Friends Graveside Service will be held at Lake View Cemetery on Wednesday, October 5th at 1:00 PM with Pastor Kim officiating. Friends are encouraged to attend the service. Please view and sign the online guestbook at www.burnhamours.com.

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