Betty Jane Curtis

Betty Jane Curtis, age 94 years former longtime resident of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 11:21 a.m. on Monday, October 2, 2017 at the Life Care Center of Plainwell, Michigan.

She was born on January 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 twenty-three years in the offices of the former Tyler Refrigeration, and in retirement she worked in the office at Wesley United Methodist Church for eleven 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; and she was very generous to produce “Betty’s Cookbook” with all of her recipes for her family.

On October 31, 1942 at Laramie, Wyoming she married Miles O. “Mike” Curtis with whom she celebrated the forty-sixth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on August 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 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 5, 2017 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 1:00 p.m.  Contributions in memory of Betty may be made to the Wings of Hope Hospice, 530 Linn Street, Allegan, MI  49010; https://wingsofhopehospice.com/donate/