Flight for Door County Cherry Pies Fulfills Final Wish

Peter Aarsvold (right) and friend Dean Zakos with the important cargo at the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.

When Betty Bowers McMurry died Sept. 7, she had one final wish for her memorial service. The author of the Windmill Gallery Cherry Book of recipes wanted Door County cherry pies served at her service. So on Oct. 4 her son-in-law Peter Aarsvold and friend Dean Zakos delivered, flying from Madison to the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport to go to Seaquist Orchards and pick up 20 fresh cherry pies.

Born Aug. 12, 1929 in South Dakota, Betty and her first husband Patrick spent many summers in Ephraim in an 1864 log cabin. She wrote weekly columns for the Door County Advocate that were compiled as a book, The Artist’s Wife. The pies were enjoyed at a celebration of life for Bowers Oct. 5.

Peter Aarsvold flew to Door County from Madison to pick up 20 cherry pies for his mother-in-law’s memorial service. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.