Courtesy photo Betty Wagner, center, is shown with Beta Sigma Co-Presidents Pauline Hill and Debra Pajula.

MENOMINEE — Beta Sigma Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, honored Frances “Betty” Wagner at their meeting on May 14, in Menominee.

Wagner was celebrated with a tribute to her biography and accomplishments and presented with a framed 50 year membership certificate signed by DKG International President, Becky Sadowski, a 50 year DKG pin, and a rose.

The award celebrates Wagner’s 50 years of dedicated, active membership in the organization, and to the educational lives of countless children and adults. Wagner served as corresponding secretary and created Beta Sigma’s award-winning newsletter, “The Blizzard,” which she edited for many years. She has been a member on the membership, historical and communications committees, and has kept the group physically active through the exercise programs she has lead at meetings.

Through her work, dedication and attendance at meetings, Betty has helped to move Beta Sigma Chapter forward successfully during COVID-19. She received DKG Michigan State Organization’s Lifetime Service Award in May of 2017 and was recognized with Beta Sigma Chapter’s Woman of Distinction Award in 1982.

Wagner is a member of Delta Psi Kappa and the Honorary Health and Physical Education Society at Louisiana State University. Her background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education with a minor in Spanish from Louisiana State University in 1952. She worked for two years in Charleston, S.C., as district director of the Carolina Low Country Girl Scouts. She also taught physical education and coached tennis at Hinds Jr. College in Raymond, Miss.

Wagner moved to the U.P. and taught physical education at Holy Name High School in Escanaba for two years and then went on to teach health and physical education at Gladstone Public Schools for 27 years. She was also Gladstone’s gymnastics coach for nine years.

In her personal life, Wagner grew up in Laurel, Miss. She met her husband, Richard “Dick” Wagner, of Escanaba, while he was in the Navy, and the two married in Mississippi. They were married for 62 years until his death in 2016. They have two children together, and she now has six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and five step-grandchildren.

Her hobbies and interests include gardening, crotcheting, line dancing and exercise class. Her memberships include Bay de Noc Garden Club and Delta County Master Gardener’s Association. She enjoys planting flowers, and as a master gardener, she always has a beautiful display in her yard.

Wagner is a hard-working, talented and giving person with a great sense of humor who is always willing to volunteer her service to help others. Her volunteer service has included RSVP Retired Senior Volunteer Program instructor: aerobic exercise, arthritis exercise, line dancing; exercise instruction for residents of North Woods Place and Bishop Noa; volunteer water safety instructor; Senior Advisory Council; and as the exercise and line dancing instructor at Escanaba and Bark River Senior Centers.

She is a member of AAUW, and Bay Sages, and the Michigan Association Retired School Personnel.

Beta Sigma members proudly congratulate Wagner on this well-deserved award and thank her for her contributions to education and to DKG. DKG is an honorary international organization of woman educators that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. The Beta Sigma Chapter includes members from Michigan’s Dickinson, Delta, and Menominee counties and Wisconsin’s Marinette, Oconto, and Florence counties.