Betty Jean Rodenkirch
May 9, 1932–July 4, 2024
Betty Jean Rodenkirch was a quiet Wisconsin girl born in Prairie du Chien along the Mississippi River. She was the fourth child of Edward and Betty Fleeman, with a German heritage dating back before the Civil War.
For 50 years the Rodenkirch family would meet every year on Labor Day at Cherry Valley, Iowa where the original Matthias Rodenkirch first settled. Life in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s was challenging for these simple folk. Depression had its grip on society and jobs were hard to find. But Betty Jean was a pretty tough kid in spite of the family challenges. Eight years at St. Gabe’s had blessed Betty with a strong faith in God and a desire to create a solid foundation in family.
Betty graduated high school and at age 19 and married Kenny Borne, her high school sweetheart. Within five years she and Kenny became busy parents with two girls and two boys.
When Kenny lost his trucking job, Betty had a vision for the future. Living on a dime with her four children at Grandma Fleeman’s, she sent Kenny off to Chicago to learn barbering skills. When he started his new career in Palatine, Illinois, she moved her family to Illinois and started a new life.
Together, Ken and Betty worked to grow up their six children putting them through Catholic school at SS Peter and Paul and attending church every Sunday. They bought a three-bedroom home in the middle of a new suburb in downtown Cary and became part of the rapidly growing middle class in the USA in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
Betty was the hub of her family. She devoted herself to raising her children to value education, morality, kindness to all people and a love for God. She exemplified this caring for others throughout her life by patiently caring for her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her friends and in her caretaking job.
She was a fantastic cook who regularly watched Julia Childs. Betty was also an excellent seamstress who was so talented, she made her husband a tailored suit jacket. She was so good with plants; she could stick a twig into a Mason jar and get it to grow roots. Because of Betty’s strength and vision, her children and grandchildren have gone on to work in education, speech pathology, engineering, medical fields, construction, software development, marine research, accounting, sales, etc.
We are so grateful to this incredible woman for building into us, sacrificing for us, and loving us for all these years.
Thank you, Mom and Grandma. Job well done! Betty Jean joined her Lord and Savior on July 4, 2024, at 92 years old. She was predeceased by her husband, Ken and survived by her six children, Jeannine Weyrauch, Jennifer Bornekomosa (Gary), Jim (Tara), Jay (Randi), Janel Borne, Jody (Adriane) and 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. We will remember and honor Betty Jean’s legacy and life.
A Memorial Mass of Resurrection will be Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Gabriel’s Church of the Holy Family Parish, Fr. Brandon Guenther officiating with burial in the Evergreen cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. The Garrity Funeral Home of Prairie du Chien is assisting the family. www.garrityfuneralhome.com.
