Bette Zinke

Bette Zinke, 85, of Westby died Saturday, January 18, 2014. Bette Sveum Zinke, 85, of Westby, WI, died peacefully surrounded by her family at the Bland Bekkedahl Hospice Center on Saturday, January 18, 2014. Over the past few years she faced the challenge of a stroke and inoperable cancer with courage and dignity. She was born September 11, 1928 to Carl and Gladys Bronson in Melvina, WI. Her family later moved to Cashton where she grew up and graduated from high school in 1946. Bette then moved to La Crosse, WI and worked at Trane Company. She moved to Westby, WI when she married Robert Sveum in October 1949. Together they built a home where family and friends were always welcomed and the coffee pot was always on. She demonstrated her many talents in her working career as a seamstress, bookkeeper, and office administrator. Bob Sveum died in 1978. In March 1990 she married Ed Zinke. They too volunteered within the community and traveled to see family and friends until his death in 2008. Bette gave her time and love to help others. She was an active member of the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church and especially enjoyed sharing her sewing talents with the quilting ministry at church. Bette served as a Cub Scout den mother and Girl Scout Troop leader for years, served our veterans in the American Legion Auxiliary, volunteered at the Salvation Army and later the Bethel Butikk and Food Pantry, and was an active member of the Norseland Nursing Home Auxiliary to name just a few. Bette enjoyed sewing, gardening, traveling, card playing, and many competitive games of Rummikub with friends, family, and especially with her grandchildren often into late hours of the night. Bette was creative and consistently demonstrated a positive caring approach to life. Grandma always had plenty of time and projects for her grandchildren, never worried how messy they were, and proudly displayed their projects in her home. As several of her former Girl Scouts said, "Bette was an inspiration to all and a role model that will never be forgotten". Her legacy will carry on in her grandchildren, family and all those she touched. Bette was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, William, Robert and Donald; husbands, Robert Sveum and Edward Zinke. Her daughter survives her, Jean Sveum Dix and her husband Daniel of Chapin, SC., and son William Sveum and his wife Jeanette of Santa Fe, NM; grandchildren, Amy Dix and her fiance Ed Currie, Chicago, IL. Nathan Dix, Chapin, SC., Megan Sveum, Los Angeles, CA and Sara Sveum Pesses and her husband Evan of Los Angeles, CA. She is survived by her sister, Juanita Mickelson of Westby, WI. and brothers Gary Bronson and Barbara of Allenton, WI. Richard Bronson and Elaine of Manitowoc, WI along with many nieces and nephews and her extended step family. Bette was a beloved daughter, spouse, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend who will be dearly missed. The family wishes to thank all her caregivers at Norseland Nursing Home and the Bland Bekkedahl Hospice Center. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorials be made to the Bethel Butikk and Food Pantry of Westby and The Bland Bekkedahl Hospice Center of Viroqua. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Westby. Pastor Julie Wollman will officiate with burial to follow in the Coon Prairie Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.