Betty Lee

Born Betty Mae Hall on September 10, 1926 in Menomonie, WI Died November, 2021 in Woodville, Wisconsin. She grew up in Superior, WI and started singing at the age of 5 years old, a talent that she practiced all her life. Betty was united in marriage to Kenneth Alf after World War II, and this marriage was blessed with three children, Kenneth “Kip”, Kristine, and Kathy. Tragically, Kenneth was killed in 1953 in an accident at Dairyland Power in Baldwin. Later, Betty married Roland Lee, and though this marriage would end in divorce, she was blessed with two more children, Robin and Rickey. Betty later met Leroy “Duke” Larson who became her life partner until his death in 2017 due to cancer. At the age of 15, Betty started her professional music career when she was hired by WEBC radio in Duluth, MN. She was noticed by KMSP channel 9 in Minneapolis, MN and got to work with Country singer Chuck Carson, and performed at the famous Flame Café in Minneapolis. In 1959, Betty was the star of her own show “The Country Jamboree with Betty Lee” at WEAU, channel 13 in Eau Claire, WI. She was invited to tour with the Grand Ole Opry across the country, and made many guest appearances on television programs while working with and meeting famous country artists like Mel Tillis, Johnny Rodriguez, Billy Walker, and Conway Twitty. Betty always thanked God for the success and opportunities she had, and said, “I will sing as long as the good Lord allows me to.” She opened for Tonya Tucker and other artists at the LCO Casino in Hayward, WI, performed at Midwest Country Music Theater in Sandstone, MN, was invited by Terry Bethel to sing at the Baldknobber Theater in Branson, MI, sang background vocals for Dave Dudley, and was given support from Dick Driscoll from Mystery Ranch Studios. Betty was also called by Jack Beasley owner of KLPR, channel 14 in Oklahoma City, OK to she if she would host the Oklahoma Today Show, but she turned down the job to raise her five children. Among her musical peers, Betty was awarded “Best Female Vocalist of the Year” and also recognized with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame in 2004. A famous quote of Betty’s “If you’re going to sit around and do nothing, all that’s going to happen for sure is that you’re going to grow old.”