Elizabeth (Betty) Kowalski (Konkol), 88, of Stevens Point, passed away peacefully at Dimensions Memory Care on December 3rd, 2025. She was born to Ambrose and Sophie (Armatoski) Konkol on April 29th, 1937 in Polonia, WI and lived in the area her whole life.

Betty grew up attending a one-room schoolhouse and later graduated from PJ Jacobs High School in 1955. She was the first person in her family to graduate high school and believed that “education was one of the only things in the world that couldn’t be taken away from you”.

After graduating high school, Betty worked at Sylvia’s Store and Tavern.

Betty met her husband of almost 65 years, John Kowalski, while singing in the church choir. They married at Sacred Heart Church on August 9, 1958 on the hottest day of the year after a Christmas Eve proposal. Shortly after their marriage, John and Betty moved to the Kowalski family farm after her father-in-law’s death. They later purchased the farm and happily raised four children on its beautiful acreage. John preceded Betty in death on February 11, 2023.

Betty was known for her excellent cooking and baking skills, and for her delicious canned goods (especially her pickles, which her granddaughters eagerly enjoyed at every visit). She had a deep love for tending her expansive vegetable and flower gardens. She never killed a houseplant, and most definitely had a “green thumb”.

Betty devoted countless hours to volunteering at her beloved Sacred Heart Parish in Polonia, where she was a lifelong member. A woman of steadfast faith, she was dedicated to her work with the Sacred Heart Rosary Society and was proud to have helped publish a parish recipe book. A natural leader, Betty served as PTA president for a time while her children attended Sacred Heart School. Throughout her life, Betty shared her many talents in a variety of roles, and especially treasured her work as a private caregiver for the Johnson family.

Betty is survived by two children: Cindy (Jim) Bernas and Paul (Yvonne) Kowalski, 5 grandchildren: JT (Trevor Danielski) Kowalski, Haley (Apoorv/”Nick” Gupta) Takau, Kate (Tim) Czaja, Alex (Amanda) Bernas, and Dan Bernas, three great-grandchildren: Addison Bernas, Tova Czaja, and Aubrey Bernasand 3 of her 7 siblings, Florence Laska, Ron (Linda) Konkol, and Gary Konkol, sisters-in-law, Barbara Konkol and Eileen Konkol, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John, two sons, John and Alan, an infant daughter Mary, and her brothers Myron (Glenes) Konkol, Frank Konkol, James Konkol, Richard (Linda) Konkol, and brother-in-law, Alois Laska.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Dimensions Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice for the exceptional care and kindness they provided to Betty in her final months. They would also like to offer a special thank you to Ron and Linda Konkol, whose countless hours of love and support brought great comfort to Betty in her last days.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Betty will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Polonia, 7375 Church Street, Custer. Rev. Arturo Vigueras will be officiating along with Rev. Mark Miller concelebrating the mass. Burial will take place in the Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM on Tuesday until the time of service at the church. Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the Kowalski Family.