Betty Frost

Betty Louise Frost (nee Day), 89, passed away peacefully after a brief illness, on September 11, 2018 at Heartland House in Wautoma, Wisconsin.

Born in Mendham, New Jersey, July 26, 1929 to Winnifred and Raymond Day, Betty attended high school in Morristown, NJ and upon graduation, became a switchboard operator. She met the love of her life, Jack Frost, while vacationing at Asbury Park, NJ. She loved to tell their story of how Jack approached her on the beach, a dashing Army Signal Corps GI with a camera, and asked to take her picture for an Army assignment. She relented, but only after he promised to bring a copy of the photo to her when it was completed. Jack kept his promise—and a lifelong bond was forged.  They were married in Mendham NJ, on January 8, 1956.

Upon their marriage, Jack and Betty (known to many as “B”), returned to the Frost family farm outside of Richford, Wisconsin to start their life together. Through their 39-year marriage, Jack and Betty established and grew the Frost Waterfowl Trust into the country’s largest producer of mallard ducks. Betty worked side-by-side with Jack, caring for the house and kids, and serving as an active member of the Richfordettes Homemakers club. When Jack passed away in December 1996, Betty resolved to stay on the beloved Frost farm for as long as she could.  She lived an active and independent life on the farm until, at the age of 86, she moved to Heartland House in Wautoma, Wisconsin.

Betty loved her family above all else, and she reveled in sharing pictures and stories with others about her children’s and grandchildren’s exploits and accomplishments. She was an active member of Homemakers/HCE and a regular participant in TOPS - gaining her “queen” status in 2010.  Her days were filled with helping Jack with duck hatches, cooking and baking for her family and friends, tending her flowers and garden, and helping her neighbors. She loved to travel to visit her daughter and made regular trips through the years to Alaska, Washington DC, Atlanta and Montana.  Each day, for decades, Betty would jot down the day’s happenings in her journals — simple stories of a life well-lived, from a person well-loved by many.

Her children, Jack Jr., Sandy and Trace, happily recall a rambunctious childhood filled with “Mom” stories of blueberry phones, baby mice in the freezer and garter snakes in the closets — but mostly cherish a Mom that was always there for them and always their biggest champion.

Betty is preceded in death by her beloved husband Jack, her parents and her brothers Bob and Don Day. She is survived by her children Jack (Beth), Sandy (Dave Schmid), and Trace (Jean), and her three grandchildren Erika Alexander (Tim), Hilary Rozak (Barry) and Maya Schmid.

Betty’s family warmly thanks her very special friend, Carolee Primising, for her unwavering friendship, care and compassion. We would also like to thank the caring and professional staff of Heartland House for making Mom’s last years comfortable, safe and enriching.

A celebration of Betty Frost’s life will be held on Saturday, October 13, at the Leikness Funeral Home in Wautoma, Wisconsin. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m.  The memorial service will be followed by interment at the Town of Richford Cemetery.  Immediately following, there will be a lunch and informal gathering at the St. Peter Lutheran Church, Richford, Wisconsin.