Betty Walker Smith

Betty Walker Smith, a lifelong advocate for the rights of women, families and minorities, died at home on December 27, 2008 at age 90. Her spouse of 53 years, William Bradford Smith, died in 1995. Born July 22, 1918, Betty spent her childhood in Columbus, NE. After two years at Nebraska Wesleyan University, she finished her undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin. She graduated in 1941 with a B.S. in Journalism; years later, in 1974, she completed a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration. Long active in Republican Party politics at the county, state and national levels, she firmly believed that the way to improve the lives of women, families, and minorities, was through the negotiations and compromises involved in politics.   A liberal Republican feminist, she was active in the women's movement for over 40 years. She was a volunteer for Head Start in the 1960s, and served on Dane County Court Judge Ervin Bruner's commissions on preschool needs and juvenile detention. She was instrumental   in founding Child Development Inc which has provided child care services to thousands of M...[more]

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son's children since 1968. She served on the Wisconsin Governor's Commission on the Status of Women from 1968-1980 (chair 1969-1971), and addressed the Washington, D.C. gathering which founded the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971. Quoted in a front page New York Times article about that historic event, Betty urged the more than 200 women present to "educate, activate, motivate, and legislate. We must humanize America to save her." She addressed the needs of families, and, with others, helped overturn the Wisconsin law which had restricted providing family planning information to married persons only.  She served on the Madison Common Council, from 1973 to 1979, representing Madison's 19th Ward. She served as Council President in 1978, and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Madison in 1977. She also ran, unsuccessfully, for the Wisconsin State Legislature.   She was a leader in the efforts to build Madison's State Street Civic Center and State Street Mall, and later, Madison's wonderful Overture Center.   From 1969 through the 1990s, she helped UW women faculty address tenure requirements and processes. She worked in the advertising department at the Wisconsin State Journal from 1932 -- 1942. She was an instructor at Madison Business College from 1963 --1981, and a sales associate at First Weber Realty from 1979 -- 2002.   A member of First Congregational United Church of Christ for over 60 years, she was also a longtime member of League of Women Voters, AAUW, PEO (a women's educational organization) and South Madison Rotary.   She is survived by three daughters: Kathryn Smith Gould of Cambridge, MA; Janet Smith Whitaker of Silver Bay, NY; Patricia Smith Grimes of St. Anthony, MN; a daughter-in-law, Linda Blake Smith (Betty's son Robert Bradford Smith died in 1998); a foster daughter, Roz Hack of Mequon, WI; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.   The family expresses grateful appreciation to the staff and Angels at Attic Angels, where Betty lived for two years, and to the nurses and staff of Hospice.  A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1609 University Avenue. Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to Child Development, Inc. ( 2012 Fischer St, Madison, WI 53713),  Hospice Care, Inc. ( 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI 53711), or First Congregational  United   Church of Christ of Madison ( 1609 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53726).