Betty Haas

On September 27th, 2025, Betty J. Haas passed away peacefully at the age of 97. She was surrounded by her family as she crossed over into heaven.

Betty was born in 1928 to Dorothy and Ted Bakken in Wadena, Minnesota. They moved, while she was young, to Ponsford, Minnesota, where they had a family farm. Betty was one of seven children and her oldest sister, Louise, is still enjoying life in Austin, Minnesota. Betty was always dedicated to learning and was valedictorian of her high school class.

Betty married Robert (Bob) Haas when she was 21 and 9 months later their daughter Karen arrived. Then their daughter Sharon arrived a mere 16 months later. Right after Sharon was born in Minnesota , Bob was notified he would be stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Betty – always resilient – made the trip across country alone with a 17 month old and a newborn to sail across the Pacific Ocean to join him. The Hawaiian Islands were then their primary home for most of the time Bob was in the Navy. Their third daughter, Patricia (Pat) was born in Hawaii about 16 months after they moved there.

Throughout her life, Betty was an avid reader – she was passionate about reading and learning. She always said her mother would find her sneaking away to a quiet location on the farm in order to enjoy a good book – even when she was supposed to be watching her younger siblings or doing chores.

Betty also was an excellent businesswoman. After Bob retired from the Navy, they moved to Kent, Washington. She and Bob had a Farmers Insurance Company office for many years and while Bob sold insurance she managed the office. She enjoyed keeping the office running and meeting clients.

After they retired from insurance, Bob and Betty spent winters at their second home in Yuma, Arizona. Betty loved walking along the canals and enjoying trips to Mexico.

Betty spent her last few years at Stafford/Hillside Assisted Living in Kent, making many wonderful friends and memories.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Haas, as well as her oldest daughter, Karen Cavaleri and her beloved grandson, Aaron Cavaleri.

She is survived by her daughter Sharon Nelson and her husband John, as well as her daughter Patricia (Pat) Hartman and her husband Chip. Additionally she leaves behind her beloved “adopted” children, Pamela (Pam) and Terry Carlson. Betty has five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren whom will miss her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to honor Betty’s life, the family suggests a contribution to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P. O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-05l5, wl.donorperfect.org. Betty remained hopeful that a cure for the disease ,which caused her loss of vision, will be found.