Betty Christner

Betty Jean Christner, age 80 of Elk Mound, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. She was born in Eau Claire on September 11, 1944, to the late James and Ellen Wampole.

Betty took great pride in her family. Spending time with her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids was her treasure. A favorite pastime of hers was watching and feeding her birds. She was a very talented baker (right up to the end, she had the sweetest tooth in the world), cook, painter and seamstress. Betty liked to watch football, she was an avid reader and she kept notes on every lottery number she ever played, along with a few trips to the casino hoping to win the big one. She was very close to her siblings and their spouses with many family reunions and phone calls over the years. Betty was a very independent person who never liked to draw attention to herself. She was proud that she was able to live in her home for the last 57 years.

Betty married Thomas Hauck and they had three children together. She later married Donald Christner and to that union brought one child and three additional children. Donald passed in 2015.

Surviving her are her children: James (Karen) Hauck of Eau Claire, Elizabeth "Lisa" (Bob) Ziegler of New Richmond and Jessica Christner of Eau Claire; Denise Hager of Eau Claire, Donald (Ginger Olger) Christner Jr. of Elk Mound, and Michael Christner of Fountain City, WI; grandchildren: Mark (Chelsea), Katie (Caleb Brennan) and Nicole (Lachlin Carlson) Hauck, Tyler (MaryLeauna Christensen) Smith, Melissa (Nate) Griebel, Jordan Ahlman, Austin and Chloe Hatfield; Cain Hughes, Daniel, Darren and Deanna Christner; great-grandchildren: Braxton Hauck, Quinn and Otto Griebel, Bentley Christner; brothers: Ron (Karen) Wampole of Sturtevant, WI, Raymond Wampole of Madison, Richard (Mary) Wampole of Chippewa Falls and Randy (Jo) Wampole of Eleva; sister Bonny (Leonard) Wiensz of Nevada; sisters-in-law: Evi Herpel of Madison and Claudia Wampole of Mondovi. Along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceding her in death are her parents, husband Donald, son Michael Hauck, grandson Brandon Angell, brothers and their wives: Roland (Madalyn), Russell, Roger, LaNay (Irene) and George (Suzie) Larson, and a sister in infancy.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family.