Betty Mae Fabian Hilbelink, 86, passed away on Saturday evening (August 10, 2024) at Azura
Memory Care in Sheboygan. She was born on March 11,1938 – the only child of Elmer and
Arline (Eisentraut) Fabian. She attended Longfellow Grade School in the Town of Scott where
her parents were dairy farmers. As a child, she was a member of the Scott Pioneers 4-H Club
and especially active in dairy projects. Betty graduated from Random Lake High School in 1956
and began working in the office of Amity in West Bend. She married Ernest Hilbelink on October
6, 1956 at Zion United Brethren Church in Batavia. After their marriage, they lived in Cedar
Grove and she worked in the office of Allen-Edmonds in Belgium. Ernie was drafted into the
Army in November of 1957. The following spring, Betty joined her husband in Bad Kissingen,
Germany until his discharge in October 1959. In 1960, they began dairy farming in the Town of
Scott. As the family grew up, Betty took a position as administrative assistant at Brown’s Floral
for 14 years until 1998. After 30 years of farming, they sold the farm in 1990 and moved to rural
Random Lake.
Betty was a member of Zion United Methodist Church. She loved her church and was always
willing to serve. She taught Sunday School, mentored confirmands, was church historian, and a
member of the United Methodist Womens Club. She served on the church council for many
years. Betty loved music, especially Southern Gospel music. She loved nature, especially
watching birds return to her backyard in the spring. She and her husband loved to travel. Betty
was an avid Brewers and Packers fan. Her biggest pleasure was being a snowbird to
Tennessee each winter after the birth of her triplet grandchildren in 2003. She was a caring
person and devoted wife who dearly loved her family and friends.
Betty is survived by her husband of 67 years (Ernest) and four sons – Steven (Jean) of Delray
Beach, Florida, Gregg (Cindy) and Joel (Jenette) of Waldo, Wisconsin, and Scott (Beth) of
Knoxville, Tennessee as well as four grandchildren (Christopher Vorpahl, Ashley Hilbelink,
Dustin Hilbelink and Heather Hilbelink). There are eight step-grandchildren (Andrew Wendt, Eric
Wendt, Kattarina Wendt, Seth Hammons, Hope Guerena, Vivienne Ducote, Abraham
Hammons, and Isaiah Hammons). There two great-grandchildren and fifteen step-great-
grandchildren. She is survived by one sister-in-law Elvira (Kenneth) Janke of Sheboygan and
many cousins, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, three in
brothers-in-laws (Gordon, Wesley, and Ellsworth Hilbelink) and three sisters-in-laws (Margaret
Hilbelink, Marion (Virgil) Mullikin, and Marjorie Hilbelink).
Visitation will be held on Saturday (August 17, 2024) at Suchon Funeral Home in Plymouth from
1:00PM – 3:00PM; with a memorial service to follow at 3:00 PM. Pastor Gail Mitchell will
officiate. Inurnment will be at Zion United Methodist Cemetery in Batavia.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sheboygan County Humane Society, 3209
North 21st Street, Sheboygan, WI 53083 (920-458-2012) to honor Betty’s love for her dog,
Freddie, and all dogs needing a home.
The Suchon Funeral Home is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit
www.suchonfh.com.
Comments