Haldora ""Betty"" Langlois

Haldora Beth “Betty” (Bergh) Langlois, 91, Green Bay, formerly of Wausau, WI, died surrounded by family on September 12, 2011 at Unity’s Jack and Engrid Meng Residential Center (Hospice) in De Pere, WI. She was the oldest of three children, born on March 15, 1920 in Watertown, SD to Mildred Frances (Harstad) Bergh and Ingvald Gerhard Bergh, D.D.S. Betty graduated from Watertown Senior High School in 1938 and then worked in her father’s dental office (1938-39) before attending South Dakota State College in Brookings, SD 1939-1941. In 1941-42 she attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, MN and was hired at the school as assistant to the placement director. On March 6, 1942, Betty enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) which soon became the Women’s Army Corps (WAC/July 1942). She completed basic training at Ft. Des Moines, IA. Betty became a recruiter stationed in the third service command, headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, where she attained the rank of Sergeant. She also served in Lancaster, Williamsport, York, and Harrisburg, PA. She met First Lieutenant Alfred Chester Langlois while in the military; they were married May 20, 1944 in Chicago, IL. They lived in New York and South Dakota before settling in Wausau, WI in 1946. They started The Wisconsin River Valley News and later purchased the Marathon Travel Agency which they owned and operated for 25 years. Betty was a Cub Scout den mother (1953-54). She was active in the League of Women Voters in Wausau for many years including serving as Public Relations chairperson from 1957-59 and she served on a study task force for the League’s Juvenile Justice Committee from 1976-77. In 1977, Betty graduated from the Peer Counselor Project for Non-Urban Women at University of Wisconsin – Stout and was employed as a peer counselor at The Women’s Community, Inc. from 1980 to 1987. Betty lived in Wausau for 61 years; in 2007 she moved to Green Bay to be closer to her daughter, Annette and family. Betty was an avid reader with interests in history, government, politics, philosophy and religion. She also enjoyed frequent family times and celebrations especially since moving to Green Bay. She was a member of the First Universalist Unitarian Church of Wausau since 1947 and was an organizer (1954-1959) and charter member of the church’s Friday night Forum group. She was very proud of initiating and participating in this study group. Betty is survived by her sister Janice (Bergh) Wilder, Janesville, WI; a daughter, Annette (John) Grunseth, Green Bay, WI; a daughter-in-law Anne Marie Langlois, Sioux City, IA; six grandchildren: Eric (Erica) Grunseth, Green Bay, WI, Andrew Grunseth, Eau Claire, WI; Amanda Burke, Miami, FL; Laura Langlois, Tulsa, OK; David Langlois, Sioux City, IA ; Maria Langlois, Olympia, WA; David and Maria’s mother, Karen Langlois, Olympia, WA; and great-grandson Oscar Langlois, Olympia, WA. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred (Al) in 2004; a son, Peter Richard Langlois in 2004; her parents, and a brother, Richard L. Bergh, who was missing-in-action in 1945 in the Pacific during WWII. A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 18, at 2:00 p.m. at First Universalist Unitarian Church, 504 Grant Street, Wausau with the Rev. Paul Beckel officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent in memory of Betty Langlois to the First Universalist-Unitarian Church of Wausau, 504 Grant St., Wausau, WI, 54403. Special thanks go to the staff of Woodside Manor I, Woodside Rehab and the staff of Unity Hospice Palliative Care in Green Bay for the loving care they gave to our mother and grandmother. . Also a thank you to Brainard Funeral Home for their care during this time. Cotter Funeral Home in De Pere assisted with arrangements. To send online condolences visit their web site: www.cotterfuneralhome.com