Bette Matson

Madison - Bette Jean (Benoy) Matson, Age 76, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on April 11, 2013. Bette was a long-time cancer survivor, diagnosed with 4th stage breast cancer in August 2002.
Bette was born on January 2, 1937 to Francis and Virginia (Steiner) Benoy. The family lived on farms in the Monroe, Dayton, and Belleville areas before moving to a farm outside of Fort Atkinson in 1948. Upon graduation from Fort Atkinson Senior High in 1954, Bette went to work at Jamesway the very next week. She worked various jobs in Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, and Milton before accepting employment at the USDA-Farm Service Agency of Jefferson County, as administrative program assistant, spending 5 of those years as a County Operations Reviewer auditing WI and MI county offices. She retired in Jan 2004 after 17+ years of service.
Bette was married to Dr. Charles Matson on July 14, 1962 and they made their home in Ft. Atkinson. She was a stay-at-home mom after the birth of their 1st child, and returned to the work force when her youngest child was in Junior High. After Charles' death in April 1987, Bette moved to Sun Prairie for 2 years, and then returned to live in Jefferson before moving to Madison in April 2001.
A Packer fan, she and Charlie attended most games during the glory years when the Pack was coached by Vince Lombardi. She was an avid golfer & bowler and loved all spectator sports. Bette was a season ticket holder to Badger football and men's and women's basketball and was fortunate to see the Badgers win at two Rose Bowl games.
While working for the FSA, Bette met Grant Loy who was to become a very special part of her life. He rarely missed being by her side whenever an Oncology appointment was scheduled.
Bette is survied by 3 daughters; Jane (Ron) Fehrman, Stacy (Scott) Seversin, and Sondra (Steve) Lisse; 5 grandchildren; Shauna & Sabra Lisse, Charlie & Hazel Serversin and Kate Dalton-Hoffman, 1 step-granddaughter, Sasha (Lisse) Fenwick; 6 siblings, Shirley (Harold) Steinke of Janesville, Gilbert (Jeanette) Benoy of Ft. Atkinson, Carole (George) Love of Beloit, Margaret Maglio of Hancock, Tom (Renee) Benoy of Dane and Susan (Ron) Dale of Arizona; fiance Grant Loy of Stitzer, Sister-in-law Marilyn (Matson) Johnson of Cambridge and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis & Virginia; a sister, Sally Wolf; husband Charles; grandnephew Kole Wolf-Peterson; niece Trudi Love, and brother-in-law Carlo Maglio.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Dr., Madison (corner of Old Sauk Rd. & Everglade Dr.) on Tues. April 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. with Msgr. Donn Heiar presiding. Visitation will be held at CRESS CENTER, 6021 University Ave., Madison on Mon. April 15, 2013 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and 1 hour before the service at church on Tues. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Atkinson on Wed. April 17, 2013at 11:00 a.m.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Dean West Clinic Oncology staff, Dr. Roy Kim, Dr. Edward Prendergast, Instant Sisters, Karine Brager, Darly Copus and Agrace Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bette's name to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish or American Family Children's Hospital.