Betty Kirby

Betty Willius Kirby passed away on December 11, 2015 at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester.Services will be held on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 12:00 at the Congregational Church 974 Skyline Dr. SW in Rochester, with Reverend Dr. Teresa Roberts officiating. Betty was born in Rochester on August 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 the 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 womens 18 hole league at the Rochester Country Club.She loved to watch golf on TV and also was an avid Vikings fan.She had a great flair for entertaining and gave wonderful parties for friends and family.Her creative talents 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 9 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and a sister, Dorothy Knight of Shreveport, LA.She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Jane Landry of Lookout, MT., TN and her husband Dr. Thomas J. Kirby. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Seasons Hospice 1696 Greenview Dr. SWRochester, MN 55902 or Prairie River Home Care 230 20th Avenue SW #101 Rochester, MN 55902