FRAKER (MEYERS-SMIEJA), Betty M., age 97

Died: Tuesday, March 12th, 2024

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024 at St. Olaf Catholic Church with Father James Kurzynski officiating

Visitation: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home
and also one hour prior to Mass at church

Interment: Prairie View Cemetery, Village of Lake Hallie, Wisconsin

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials be given to St. Olaf's Building Fund in memory of Betty (320 Monroe Street, Eau Claire, WI  54703)

Betty M. Fraker (Meyers-Smieja), age 97, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully at home while surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Betty was born May 26, 1926 to the late Andrew and Florence (Belmore) Meyers in Eau Claire. She graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School and was working at the Barstow Street Café where she met her loving husband, Edward Smieja. They were united in marriage on January 10, 1946 in Independence, Wisconsin. They moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they lived for two years before moving back to Eau Claire, where she remained until her death.

Betty was a charter member of St. Olaf Catholic Church since 1952. She served a term on the parish council and sang in the church choir for over 50 years. Betty worked for various law offices before taking a job with the U.S. District Court in 1965; working there until her retirement in 1989.

After being a widow for 11 years, she reconnected with her childhood sweetheart, Philip Fraker. They were married in April 2002 and had six wonderful years together before his death in 2008.

She will be remembered for her love of God, family, faith community, music, and prayer group. Betty dreamed of being an Opera singer, but God had different plans as she ended up singing lullabies to her six children instead.

Betty is survived by her daughters, Kitty Cantlon, Pat (Dave) Preston, and Val (Brian) Orysen; sons, Larry (Ann) Smieja and Dale (Mary) Smieja; 22 grandchildren; 43 great grandchildren; 16 great-great grandchildren; brother, Jack (Greta) Meyers; many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Edward Smieja and Philip Fraker; son, David A. Smieja; son-in-law, Sam Cantlon; and brothers, Jim and Bob Meyers.