Elizabeth "Bette" Jane (Ulrich) Strance

Elizabeth “Bette” Jane (Ulrich) Strance, 88, of Williston passed away peacefully on May 25, 2024. Elizabeth was born on August 18, 1935 to Peter and Anna (Pribis) Ulrich. She graduated from Olney High School in 1953 and worked as a secretary for Genoa Schools and as a medical records clerk for local hospitals and the Lutheran Home in Oregon.

Bette cherished her family with passion and devotion as a wife, mom, grandma, and GG. Being included in her family’s lives gave her joy. Bette’s backyard parties, especially at Halloween, were an expression of her fun-loving spirit. She had a quick sense of humor and loved to laugh and remained young at heart. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church of Bono was her home parish. She had a deep faith in Jesus Christ and taught her children of His love. Her interest in family history took her and Duke to Hungary where she found her mother’s birthplace. She and Duke enjoyed traveling, especially to the beach in North Carolina, Cape Cod, the Smoky Mountains, and the Ohio Amish countryside. She enjoyed puzzles, was a master gardener, and an avid reader.

She was dearly beloved by her devoted husband James “Duke” Strance; daughter Jane (Robert) Skilliter and son Timothy Vroman. Also cherishing her memory whom she dearly loved grandchildren Ashley (Nathan) Egbert, Emily (Craig) Pickerel, Amanda (Christopher) Kinison, Kristen (Tyler) Borth, Katie (Charles) Swartz, Tim (Kasey) Schneider, and Alexis (Rick) Stewart; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Raymond, Charles, and Peter; sisters Suzanne Bowman, Mary Rose Ulrich, Virginia Lombardo, and Mary Ann Stoneman; infant son Harold; daughter Bonnie Abele; and infant great-granddaughters Ella and Addison Egbert.

Family and friends may visit the Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S. Wynn Rd in Oregon on Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of prayers at 12:15 p.m. continuing in procession to a Funeral Mass celebrated at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church (Bono). Memorial contributions can be made to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Bono), Hospice of Northwest Ohio or the Allen-Clay Joint Fire District.