WASHINGTON -- Elizabeth "Betty Wall" Strohfus, a rare female pilot during World War II and Minnesota native, has died.
Strohfus was the face behind Sen. Amy Klobuchar's push to allow these veterans burial rights at Arlington National Cemetery.
The 96-year-old was a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, who took over military training roles to free male pilots to remain in combat during World War II. They didn't get recognized as veterans until the 1970s and are still unable to have their ashes laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
Klobuchar has been fighting the Pentagon on that.
Strohfus wanted to be buried her native Faribault, but told the Star Tribune just last month that the other WASPs still living deserved to be laid to rest there, if they wanted.
"While she herself wanted to be buried with her family, she stood up for her fellow WASP sisters and fought for them to have the same rights as other veterans and to be given the option to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with the honors they deserve," Klobuchar said Monday, in a statement.
