Betty J. Mcginnis

Betty Jane McGinnis (nee Carver) was born in Milwaukee on August 10, 1925. Betty found peace and went to heaven October 28, 2021 at the age of 96 following her second heart attack. Her husband Conrad, son Tab, and brothers Bob and Tom preceded her in death. She is survived by Daughter Tracey from Waukesha and Son Kevin from Ankeny, Iowa. Further survived by nieces/nephews Todd Carver, Gregg Carver, Jill Pokorny (Jim), Scott Carver (Janine), Jeff Carver (Barb).

She was one of 3 children who grew up next to the garage where the startup Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company was originally located. When she was young, her father was injured in a motorcycle/bus accident and lost part of his leg. This was very hard on the family as he couldn’t work. Betty had to move into the home of her grandparents on and off for several years until her family life returned to a more normal routine; which was difficult as this was the time of the “great depression”.

As a young adult, Betty loved adventure and to travel. She and some girlfriends loved to travel the country. Skiing in the mountains, competitive fencing (with a sword), exploring cities around the country, she would just pack her car, grab a tent, pick-up a girlfriend and off they would go. (Even attended one of the first “Rat Pack” performances). She loved to camp when they were exploring the USA. Throughout her later life, she would spend hours, sometimes days up-north at a cottage with her friends Jean, Toots, Mary, the stitchin/bitches creating works of art and drinking wine. Betty was a member of the Hartland Women’s Club for years.

Working in a Milwaukee bank, Betty met lots of people. That is where she met Conrad, her future husband. After marriage they moved “way out of the city” to Delafield. When she and Conrad decided they had had enough of the Nagawicka Lake life, they purchased 9 acres on which they would build their family and life together. Betty had 3 children. Tab, the oldest son contracted a form of meningitis and died at the young age of 5. Along with her husband and her two remaining children, she and Conrad decided to raise beef cattle on their homestead. After marriage, Betty became a “home-maker”, however, that is not what she really did. As a partner to Conrad, she cut and baled hay, fed cattle, took care of all the cattle needs while Conrad was at work and along with Conrad and the kids, worked every weekend to attend to the cattle and her family’s needs. Several years into the cattle business, Betty and Conrad were able to buy a 40-acre parcel of land, just down the street, which allowed for more cattle and consequently more work.

Betty really enjoyed doing all this outdoor work. After they ended the cattle business, Betty could be seen every day outside picking sticks, cutting 3 acres of grass and tending to her flowers and wild cats that seemed to love her as much as everyone else in Merton. In Merton, Betty was loved by all. She was known as the nicest person and one who would do anything for anyone. She only had positive things to say about everyone and every situation. Only in recent years did Betty develop heart issues. Just last month, she was driving, cutting grass, attending church, tending to her cats, watering her flowers and driving herself and friends to lunch on what seems like a weekly basis. Betty had a great life. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and town.

Betty’s funeral service will be at Evert-Luko funeral home 170 Warren Ave. Hartland at 10:30 am Saturday November 6, visitation beginning at 9:30. She will be laid to rest in the Highland Memorial Park, 14875 W Greenfield Ave, New Berlin graveside service at 12:45.