Elizabeth Louise Fieselman

Born November 8, 1925 in Pocatello, Idaho, she was the daughter of the late Henry J. Swanson and Elsie Ruth Phoenix Swanson. In addition to her parents Elizabeth, known as Betty, was preceded in death by her husband Henry John Fieselman, her son Robert William Fieselman, sister Mary Alice Swanson, and brother Peter Scott Swanson.

Betty graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. Then she briefly taught elementary school before she met Henry Fieselman in Washington, DC. They raised their young family of five in Colombia, South America then moved to Massachusetts for 10 years before settling in the Hickory NC area for their last 50+ years. They were married for 67 years before Henry passed in 2017. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church Newton, and volunteered with her church, Catawba County Second Harvest Food Bank, and Catawba Valley Hospital. While in Massachusetts she volunteered making audio tapes in Spanish for the blind. She was an avid reader, and she enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crewel embroidery. She and Henry spent many days exploring and hiking trails wherever they lived, identifying flowers and birds and passing on this knowledge to their children and grandchildren. Betty acted in high school and college. She also loved to sing in high school, college, at Tanglewood in the chorus, and later in the church choir. Finally in the last few years she enjoyed going for rides with her children to see the current flowers in bloom as well as to enjoy local ice cream shops.

Those left to cherish her memory are son Henry John Fieselman and wife Jane Kelley of Asheville, son Charles David Fieselman and wife Catherine of Concord, Thomas Edward Fieselmann and wife Olympia of Madrid, Spain; daughter Marissa Elizabeth Fieselman Laster and husband Marc of Matthews; grandchildren Laura Fieselman and partner Erin, Karen Stroud and husband Geoffrey, Sarah Anne Kielczewski and husband Stan, Virginia and partner Marco, Leigh Ellen Dudley and husband Geoff, and great-grandchildren Sebastien, Simon, Desmond, Isabella, Watson, Arthur, Oliver and Owen.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 10th, 2pm at First Presbyterian Church in Newton, with Rev David Roquemore and the Rev. Susan Roddey. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to Abernethy Laurels, 102 Leonard Ave, Newton, NC 28658, The Nature Conservancy, or Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to be serving the family.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.willisreynoldsfh.com.