Betty Lou (Wirth Eckenberg Soberg) Dawson, 94, passed away in peace on May 30, 2018, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, with family members by her side. She had lived independently at Les Chateaux Apartments on London Road for the last 12 years. Born in Duluth on January 10, 1924, she was the youngest child of George Westley Wirth and Nellie (Renn) Wirth. Betty graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1942, always referring to herself as "Betty Lou of '42." After graduation she began working for MacDonald Motor Company, a DeSoto-Plymouth dealership in Duluth, where she met her future husband, Lawrence Eckenberg, the father of her two children, Gary and Lana. In the mid 1950s, Betty again entered the workforce employed by Electric Construction Company and later as the long-time bookkeeper/office manager for Blustin Optical, retiring in 1989. After more than twenty-five years with Lawrence, she married Raymond Soberg, dividing their time between Duluth and Sun City Center-West, Florida. With a smile that was quick and welcoming, she continued to make lifelong friendships. In her later years, she met and married John Dawson, and lived a romance that was rare, indeed. During her long life, Betty was an active member of the Elks BPO Lodge No.133, and several bowling leagues and card clubs. But more than anything, she loved playing bridge at Portman and Evergreen community centers and reading adventure/mystery novels, especially by James Patterson and David Baldacci "because he's just so handsome." Reading was like breathing to her. Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brother, Donald (Arlene) Wirth; sister, Edna (Leo) Golla; and special friend Egil Hedman. Betty is survived by her son, Gary (Barbara) Eckenberg; daughter, Lana (John) DeSanto of Duluth; five grandchildren, Lindsay (Ryan) Kern, Meghan (Jason) Williams, Amy (Jared) Felix, all of Duluth, Abby (Kurt) Bonham of Minneapolis, and Adam (Alisa Hallberg) DeSanto of Bloomington; and six great-grandchildren, Reagan & Paisley Kern, Timothy, Annabelle & Jameson Felix, and Adelynn DeSanto. VISITATION: 10am on Monday June 4, 2018, at Sunrise Funeral Home, 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy, with a memorial service to follow at 11am. Memorials are preferred to the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank or the charity of your choice.

Visitation

JUN 4. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CDT)

Sunrise Funeral Home and Cremation Services & Cemetery 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown, MN, 55811

Memorial Service

JUN 4. 11:00 AM (CDT)

Sunrise Funeral Home and Cremation Services & Cemetery 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown, MN, 55811