Billie Karen Farnsworth, age 68, of Austin, died Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester of a brain aneurysm. Billie was born December 21, 1941 in Marquette, Iowa to Bill and Marion Wilkinson. They moved to Austin, Minnesota when Billie was very young. On May 17, 1960 she was united in marriage to Thomas J. Farnsworth. Billie and Tom helped her parents run Klagges Ice Cream Shop for many years. Billie enjoyed many years of fishing at their trailer on the Mississippi River in Iowa. Billie and Tom spent many years there with their grandkids and children. Billie was diagnosed with M.S. at age 30 and fought for 38 years to be a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and loving husband of 50 years. Survivors include her husband, Thomas J. Farnsworth, Austin; children, Scott Farnsworth, Austin, Lisa (Robert) Belluzzi, Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Christopher, Bobby, Jacob, Luke and Cora; great granddaughters, Chevelle and Riley Neumann; sister, Ilene (Maynard) Deyo, MN and AZ; Ilene's son, Jim Jorgenson, Missouri. She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Shirley Ann Farnsworth; mother-in-law, Genevieve "Babe" Farnsworth. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 am on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating. There will be a 6:30 pm wake service on Friday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4-7 pm and also one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery.
Service Information