Obituary: Betty Jean Walkowe
Betty Jean Walkowe (March 20, 1943 – June 25, 2018)
Betty Jean Walkowe died June 25, 2018 at the age of 94. She was born on March 5, 1924 to Leon and Eva Fern Moore in Detroit, Michigan. She married Frank Walkowe on March 20, 1943 and he proceeded her in death on March 3, 2013. They were together 70 years. Betty was born in the city of Detroit and died on the farm in Manchester where she once lived with the love of her life and raised her seven children. She was a devoted Christian, wife and mother. She moved to Missouri in 1981, where they continued to farm. She became active in her church, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Cabool, Missouri. She was a lector and was instrumental with the Parish Food Drives, Thanksgiving dinners and general out reach for the poor.
No obituary really does anyone’s life justice. Betty grew up a city girl and learned to be a Farmer’s wife. She grew up with one sibling, her brother Lyle; (who is six years older and preceded her in death) and always wanted more siblings, so she had seven children; ensuring that they had each other. They were raised during a time when rural homes were just getting electricity, indoor plumbing and the only telephone was eight person party lines. Betty was intelligent and creative and had a great sense of humor through the challenging times of raising seven children. She loved gardening, house decorating and most of all her husband and her children. Betty is survived by her seven children: Dianne (Gerald) Pierce, Sharon Kleinschmidt, Gail (Kenneth) Miller, June Beaubien, Frank Walkowe; Denise (Rodney) Gerth and Danette (Stanley) Erickson. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Valerie, Corey and Tracy Pierce, Michelle (Kleinschmidt) Stace, Richard and Ronald Kleinschmidt, Brandon Caywood and Laurie (Caywood) Cooke, Shayne Beaubien and Rebecca (Beaubien) Cawvy, Jeffrey Walkowe, Zachary Gearth and Adam Gerth, and Keith and Andrew Erickson. Also she has 19 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. She and Frank were preceded in death by their grandson, Randy Walkowe and great-great grandson, Damien Miron.
Betty had a strong faith in God and family which did not falter through her failing health. We give a special thanks to her caregiver, Cammie Burke and to her Missouri friend, Deacon Joe Kurtenbach, and special brother-in-law Jim Walkowe
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11am on Monday, July 9, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Manchester, Michigan. Rev. Fr. Bosco Padamattummal will serve as celebrant. With a burial of Cremated remains to take place following the mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.
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