Betty Kirby — Rochester

Betty Willius Kirby passed away on Dec. 11, 2015, at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester.

Services will be on Monday, Dec. 21, at noon at the Congregational Church, 974 Skyline Drive SW, in Rochester, with the Rev. Dr. Teresa Roberts officiating.

Betty was born in Rochester on Aug. 6, 1920, the middle daughter of Dr. Fredrick A. and Stella Popple Willius. Dr. Willius started the Cardiology Department at Mayo Clinic in 1915.

Betty attended Iowa State, where she majored in home economics. After college, she worked in the Ophthalmology Department at Mayo Clinic, where she met her future husband, Dr. Thomas J. Kirby, a resident in ophthalmology. Betty and Tom were married on May 29, 1948. Dr. Kirby was a member of the staff in ophthalmology until his retirement in 1983.

Betty was an avid golfer and played in the women's 18-hole league at Rochester Golf & Country Club. She loved to watch golf on TV, and was an avid Vikings fan. She had a great flair for entertaining, and gave wonderful parties for friends and family. Her creative talent of knitting will be passed on to future generations with handmade blankets and sweaters that await their arrivals in the years to come.

Betty is survived by her four children, Mary (Don) Ewers, Beth (Sal) DiLeo, Jane Jinks and Tom (Barb) Kirby, all from Minneapolis. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a sister, Dorothy Knight, of Shreveport, La.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Jane Landry of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and her husband, Dr. Thomas J. Kirby.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Seasons Hospice, 1696 Greenview Drive SW, Rochester, MN 55902, or Prairie River Home Care, 230 20th Ave. SW, No. 101, Rochester, MN 55902.

Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Homes, Rochester, www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.