Betty Haage, 96, of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, February 27, 2025 at LaSalle County Nursing Home.
Visitation will be Tuesday, March 4, from 10:00am until 12:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will be held at 12:00noon at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.
Betty was born February 17, 1929, in Wallace Township, IL, to Howard and Catherine (Piercy) Nelson. She attended the one room, country, schoolhouse near Norway. She was a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She married the love of her life, Joseph Haage on August 9, 1946. Together they shared 59 years of marriage before his passing on May 20, 2006. In their younger years, she and Joseph enjoyed traveling, dancing, roller skating and spending time with their friends.
She worked at Union Carbide and later at Blackleys Cleaners where she was nicknamed “Queen of Pants”. She kept busy and could usually be found crocheting, sewing, doing puzzles, shopping, reading, or watching a John Wayne western movie. She enjoyed cooking and baking and was known for her fried chicken and her Kringla. She was always up for a competitive game of Euchre and played frequently with her family and friends. When she found a free moment, she found peace watching the birds in her birdbath and tending to her beautiful flowers. She was always known for her quick wit and sense of humor.
She is survived by her sons, Michael (Lois) Haage and Steven (Barb) Haage; her son in law, Jim Redlich; her grandchildren, Jacob (Courtney) Redlich, Amanda (TJ) Forrer, Matt (Mehgan) Haage, Laura (Jesse) Burkhead, Susan (John) Cook, Lindsey (Jacob) Donahue, Katie Mitchell, Sarah Haage, and David (Dina) Brady; her great grandchildren, Vance Redlich, Sophia Forrer, Travis Forrer, Walter Haage, Grant Haage, Tessa Burkhead, Hadleigh Burkhead, Josie Donahue, Joseph Donahue, Henry Donahue, Jack Mitchell, Bodie Mitchell, Daniella Brady, and Dylan Brady; her brother, Delbert Nelson; her special double cousin, Janette Crane; her dear friend Cheryl Albertus; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Catherine; her daughter, Joanne (Haage) Redlich; and her siblings, SeDell Eirhart, Dorothy Duncan, Gale Nelson, Howard “Sonny” Nelson, and Kay Schmitt.
Pallbearers will be Jacob Redlich, Matt Haage, Jesse Burkhead, John Cook, Jacob Donahue, and David Brady.
Memorials may be directed to family to be distributed to causes that would’ve been important to Betty.
Betty was laid to rest in the Garden of The Last Supper at Oakwood Memorial Park.