Betty Cooper Strand, 80, Eau Claire died Monday, February 23, 2004, in Eau Claire. \r\nBetty was born November 28, 1923, in Edina, Minnesota. She attended West High School in Minneapolis and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in History. Serving in the Women's Army Corps during World War II, she was stationed at Fort Pratt, Kansas, where she met her future husband.\r\nOn October 29, 1945, she married Henry O. Strand at St Patrick's Church in Eau Claire.\r\nAfter graduating from college in 1980, Betty was employed by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services in Eau Claire, working in the adoption and group home area as support for the social workers. She retired in May 2000.\r\nBetty loved travel, being partial to Ireland but also enjoying trips to England, France, Italy, Quebec, and around the United States. She loved gardening and raised roses for years. She was a history buff, with a special fondness for the Civil War period. She served on the School Board for the Eau Claire area Catholic schools and was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, tutoring Hmong children in English as a second language.\r\nShe was a Vikings fan, a liberal Democrat, a reader, a music lover (especially 1930's and 1940's jazz), a chocoholic, and an ice cream lover.\r\nBetty is survived by seven children, Marc (wife Lisa Reiman-Strand, children, Ben, Nick, and Elizabeth Strand, and grandchild Mason Ammerman-Strand) of LaCrosse, Jon of Minneapolis, Brian (children, Alex, Brian, and Maddie Strand) of New Orleans, Sheila of Eau Claire, David of New York City, Mary (husband Tom Fraser, children, Jack Strand and Kate Fraser) of Minneapolis, and Patrick of Eau Claire; three sisters, Patricia Gill, Donna Nesser (husband, John), and Jacqueline Sullivan (husband, Andrew); sisters-in-law, Gloria Suring, Janna Gunderson, Frankie Strand, and Gladys Strand; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; three children, Karen and infant twins, Peter and Mary Jeanne; parents, Robert P. and Mary Lauretta (nee Quady) Cooper; and brother, Robert T. Cooper.\r\nMass of Christian burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feburary 26, 2004 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 418 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire, with Father William A. Dhein officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday (today) at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and an hour prior to services Thursday at the church.

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