Betty Jane Curtis, of Niles
Jan. 17, 1923-Oct. 2, 2017
Niles Daily Star, Published 10:04 am Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Betty Jane Curtis, 94, a former longtime resident of Niles, died peacefully at 11:21 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, at the Life Care Center of Plainwell, Michigan.
She was born on Jan. 17, 1923, in Niles, to Emil Eric and Edna Emma Lorraine (Kaiser) Johnson. She was graduated from Niles High School, and was first employed at the former Niles plant of Kawneer, welding aircraft components for the war effort. She was later employed for 23 years in the offices of the former Tyler Refrigeration, and, in retirement, she worked in the office at Wesley United Methodist Church for 11 years.
She has lived in Plainwell since 2000.
Betty was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles, and, as a young mother, had taught Sunday School at Saint John’s United Church of Christ. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post #26.
She was an amazing family oriented person, caring for her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Her Swedish style baking was well-known, including the hundreds of Christmas cookies delivered every year. She was very generous to produce “Betty’s Cookbook” with all of her recipes for her family.
On Oct. 31, 1942, at Laramie, Wyoming, she married Miles O. “Mike” Curtis, with whom she celebrated the 46th anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on Aug. 3, 1989.
She was also preceded in death by a son, David in 2012; a son-in-law, Dale A. Harrington, in 2016; and sisters Alice Lovelady in 2005, and Beverly Johnson, in 1999.
Surviving family includes her daughter, Deborah Harrington of Plainwell; former daughter-in-law, Jayme Marshall; grandchildren Melissa (Rich) Green, Matthew (Nettie Pigeon) Harrington, and Melanie (John) Crawford; great-grandchildren Jacob, Nickolas, Zachary, Dagan, Peyton, Kendall, Georgia, Charlotte, and Berkeley; and by several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Betty Curtis will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Robert L. Snodgrass II of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m. Contributions in memory of Betty may be made to the Wings of Hope Hospice, 530 Linn St., Allegan, MI 49010; wingsofhopehospice.com/donate/
halbritterfunerals.com