Betty J. Brocker

Betty was born on April 20, 1928, to Helfreda “Sue” Theisen and Denis “Doc” Theisen. She was raised in Iron Mountain and graduated from Iron Mountain High School, Class of 1946. She was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church.

Betty was raised with a strong work ethic. She was a waitress at the Hob Nob restaurant which her mother owned for many years, after which they worked together at Pine Grove Country Club. She had also been employed by Buchman Drug Store and worked at the VA hospital commissary. She was a loving caregiver for several years to two special elderly ladies, and she volunteered at Victorian Pines.

Nothing gave Betty more joy than babies and toddlers. She loved to dress up in her clown costume and show up at the birthday parties of great-nieces and great-nephews to hand out candy and treats. Her clown collection was extensive and was shared with many family members.

She enjoyed singing and performed with The Smile Awhiles. Some of her other interests included playing cards, reading, dancing and cooking. She was happy to bake and fill special requests for her children, nieces and nephews.

Betty was married to Albert “Bob” Nelson for 24 years. They had two children together, Pamela Nelson and Bruce Nelson.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Pamela Nelson (husband Ken Anderson) of Sheboygan, Wis., and her son Bruce Nelson of Atwood, Kan.; sisters, Marge Nelson and Orice Walters; brother, Wayne Theisen; grandchildren Shayla Hall of Denver, Shawna Uselding of Kohler, Wis., and Jeff Nelson of Arvada, Colo.

She was blessed with eight great-grandchildren, Avery Nelson, Cameron, Ty, Dayne, Tara, and Dru Uselding, and Brooke and Mikayla Nelson.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Jane Nelson of Niagara, Wis., and brother-in-law, Don (Gladys) Nelson of Aurora, Colo.; many nieces and nephews and special cousin, Joe Bouche of Belleville, Ill.

She was a proud godmother to Susan Higgins, Cory Mellinger and Steve Theisen.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her brother, Earl Theisen; sisters-in-law, Nancy Theisen and Ruth Theisen; brothers-in-law, Harlan Walters and Richard Nelson; and nephews Nick Nelson and Steve Theisen.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 at the First Lutheran Church, 1210 S Stephenson Ave., Iron Mountain.

The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the church. Bryan Laurila will officiate.

Burial will take place in Cemetery Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to CureSearch, www.curesearch.org, an organization which promotes childhood cancer research, a cause very important to Betty and her family.

Special thanks to the wonderful, compassionate nurses and staff at ManorCare of Kingsford, Dr. Beth Schroeder, and to Pam Theisen, who has been Betty’s guardian angel.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Betty (Theisen) Brocker online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.