Janet Bettis

Celebration of Janet Lou’s Life

On December 17, 1927, the proud parents Andrew & Elsie Wolf were blessed with the birth of their new baby girl, Janet Lou Wolfe, in St Petersburg, Florida.

Andrew's family was from Lexington, OH and were very entrenched in the political arena. Soon after the birth of Janet, he and Elsie set out to move to Lexington to raise their family there.

For Elsie, it was a busy year taking care a little Janet's needs and being a loving wife to Andrew. Within the first year of Janet's birth, Elsie became pregnant again with Janet's baby brother, Andrew Jr.

Soon tradgedy fell upon the Wolfe family after Elsie gave birth to baby Andrew. Both she and her darling new baby became ill and died of complications to influenza. The whole town and family was devestated for the loss of Elsie and baby Andrew, both were buried in Lexington, OH.

The last wishes of Elsie to her husband, was to have her beautiful darling Janet Lou to be cared for by her eldest sister, from her family of eleven, Ruth. Andrew was reluctant, but knew Ruth and George would care for Janet and provide a better life for her. Ruth and  George Spencer opened their arms and bonded to Janet as if she were their own daughter. Five years later they had their own daughter, Eleanor. 
 
Eleanor and Janet were truly sisters and did so many fun things together growing up. There were trips to North Branch, MI where there was George Spencer’s farm, playing with dolls and having tea parties and roller skating when she was a teenager. So the addition of Eleanor to the family made up for Janet's loss of her baby brother.

Ruth and George resided in Detroit, MI on Tuxedo Ave and overnight, baby Janet was headed to Detroit to begin her new life. At the age of (12) there was another dramatic twist and that was when she found out about her mother and her baby brother's tragic death. At the age of (12), Janet  was filled with great emotional feelings that Ruth and George were not her real parents. During her teenage years, she oftened went back to St Petersburg, Florida - spending time with her mother's sisters and brothers to learn everything she could about her real mother, Elsie. 

She learned about her mother's beauty from many photographs given to her as well as her kindness to many family members and friends. She also learned of her mother's ability to draw as an artist. But, of the many drawings she did, there are only three given to Janet. She learned about the love between Elsie and Andrew and how much they cared for her. They use to say, “Janet Lou, I love you.”

Janet was always searching to find her motherly connection she so deserved, but was lost when she was a baby. Ruth and George provided a family for her and she was grateful to both of them for taking care of her. But, Janet always felt that loss.

Andrew would stay in touch with Janet through her teenage years and through out her life. This was how they handled these circumstances in those days.

While growing up in Detroit, Michigan, Janet was your typical teenager and had so many wonderful friendships. One in particular, was Shirley McIvane. Boy, they did everything together - even skipping school. Shirley and Janet remained "Best Friends" for (70) plus years and not once did Shirley ever abandon Janet 's friendship - they were like sisters.

Janet never completed high school due to World War II, but she took on many differant jobs as many woman did while the men went off to war. Soon she met the man of her life and that was Bob. Crazy Bob! They met on an elevator while she worked for Western Union and she would always say, "We had are ups and downs ever since." They were married on September 3, 1949 and they were inseparable. Just look at the photo of the two of them in their car when they became engaged -she was snuggled on Bob's chest!

Bob's family originated from Deckerville, MI, but the family moved to Detroit where the city offered more jobs. His mother, Beatrice, came from a Scottish family (Campbell) of eleven and his father's (Sam Bettis) family of two - who were of French decendt.
 
The farm in Deckerville, MI was the center of many happy family gatherings as Bob and Janet began their life together. The family was like a magnet and Janet gravitated to Bob's family as they took her in as if she was one of them. So for the first four years of their marriage they lived with Bob's parents in the basement (called  lower level suites today) on Marlowe St in Detroit, MI.

Soon Janet and Bob gave birth to William (Billybob was his nickname) on June 18, 1950. He was an adorable little Billybob with everyone drueling over Billy. But, two years later on May 28, 1952, Janet and Bob gave birth to Billy’s baby sister, Andrea. She was the darling little sister he loved and protected but also pounded on her when no one was looking - such a “Dennis the Menace” he was.

The Marlowe house became too small with Bob and Janet and their little ones so they set out to buy their own home. They found their new home at 18420 Lennane in Redford Twp., MI and that is where Bob, Janet, Billybob and Andrea resided until 1976 until they decided to move to the country in Howell, MI.  It was Janet's committment to family that kept this family together. As Shirley McIlvane said, "She wanted her children to have what she didn't have."

Soon Bob's father died and his mother, Beatrice, married Jan's father (uncle), George Spencer. Now that takes on a new twist to the story and George moves into the Marlowe house. They were only married for (3) years; then George died of a stroke. After his death, Beatrice moved back to the farm in Deckerville, MI – spending summer months at the farm and Zephyrhills, Florida in the winter months.
 
Upon Georges death, Bob set out to take over the family insurance agency that George started in 1929. Janet would help Bob as his secretary with some light typing and filing, but that was the extent of the insurance business for her. She loved her antiques and established her own antique business. However, the insurance agency has been handed over to Bob and Janet’s two children and now their granddaughter works there making it a four generation, family owned insurance agency – Bettis Insurance Agency, Inc. What a legacy this family has!
 
There were so many family gatherings for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and long weekend trips back and forth to the farm in Deckerville, MI. There were Aunts and Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents always watching your back - they were so protective. Janet and Bob yelling at Andrea to slow down while she was driving that big old orange 1950 Allis Chalmers Tractor because she loved to go so fast along the pasture. And, telling Billy to quit shooting the birds with his bee-bee-gun or Janet sneaking to take pictures of the kids while sitting in the outhouse going to the bathroom. There was no indoor plumbing at that time. Yikes! But, she loved the farm and her family.

The home on Lennane was an open door for all friends and neighbors to walk in and Janet would gladly welcome each and everyone. She had such an attachment to people and family. As her story unfolds, it is why she longed for family.
 
The farm in Deckerville was later sold to the minister of Bob's mother's church (Reorganized Latter Day Saint) so the family had to find another location. In 1971, Bob and Janet along with Bob's sister Geneva and Pete, purchased a cottage on Turtle Island in the middle of Lake St. Clair for $5,000 and included a 16 ft speed boat. Once again there were summer weekend trips for family gatherings.
 
A few years later Pete retired, moved to Traverse City and Bob and Janet were the sole owners of the Turtle Island Cottage. Thirty eight years the cottage has been a home open to family and friends.
 
There were so many boat rides on Middle Channel, then to North Channel and off to the shipping channel on South Channel, swimming in Fischer Bay and many bar-b-ques after a day of boating. Pucketts and Nelson’s stopping by to say hello and have a few beers or chicken dinners at Brown’s bar on Middle Channel so many years ago.
 
She loved the garage sales looking for those antiques. She would have Bob drop her off at the marina with Vivian and Andrea and hit the road.  Harsen’s Island always had a weekend sale or take a ride to San Succi on South Channel to the Antique store. How she loved to listen to the mayor (Dick Pringle who voted himself to be the mayor) of Turtle Island complain about this or that.  Can’t forget about the many storms that would come out of the west and hammer the island. Janet would get so scared when she would see the front trees bend over touching the ground as the storms hit with a vengeance. On a couple of occasions she would see tornados that were water spouts hopping and skipping across Fischer bay.  There were many times Janet threaten to sell that cottage after a bad storm.
 
And, how many times the cottage has been painted -now a beautiful purple with Hubbard squash colored flower boxes and window shutters. The cottage has come along way with it’s gazebo, white picket fence and wicker swing in the backyard overlooking the flower garden. Janet’s charm.

Janet and Bob's family grew when their son Bill married Cheryl Ann and had a daughter, Kristen Marie. And, Andrea  married Dr. Jeff Bruner. Many family outings, dinners, laughter’s and tears. She loved her children and how she cared for Jeff and Cheryl. And, through those wonderful 82 years of her life, she not only had a great family legacy but she had a tremedous passion for collecting antiques. She owned an antique business in many antique shops in the cities of Plymouth, Northville, Williamston and  followed the many antique shows in the local area.
 
Janet also worked at Greenfield Village and did volunteer work at St Mary’s Hospital.
 
Scared but bound and determined, she went back to school and recieved her GED, she loved to journal and write. We were so proud of her.
 
She was always there for her children when they came home from school - helping them with homework or just hanging out with them and their friends.
 
Janet made Christmas so special for Billy and Andrea - secretly filling their Christmas stockings with toys and taking a bites of cookies left out for Santa to eat and preparing holiday meals and making everything so perfect.
 
She loved her granddaughter so very much and spent a lot of time with her when she was a child going to her piano recitals, roller skating tournaments and grandparents day at the Nazarene school in Howell.

She had so many fun times with the neighbors on Lennane street in Redford Twp. – There were Corcoran’s, Campbells, Shannons, Hassles, Karchefskis, Shaws, Klanns, Lambs, Machletts, McDonalds, Flynns, Browns and many more.  You could have coffee hour for the ladies at the Bettis’ or sit and have a few beers with Bob. If anyone needed to borrow a tool, Janet would be the first to hand it over. Finally, Bob had to engrave his name on them because he never knew where his tools went.
 
Each winter, there was an Ice rink at the Bettis’ for the neighbor kids to skate on or play hockey and she would make hot chocolate to warm the kids up.

She reached out to every family member – There were Ebys, McDermotts, Olds, Spencers, Mootys, McFarland’s, Macintoshes, Parsons, Dicksons, Chounards, Campbells, Naus, Shaws and Wolfs - so many wonderful family moments at the holidays and more.

She had so many wonderful family friends – Moores, McIlvanes, Coles, Elliots, Morrisions, Pringles, Pucketts, Graeberts, Inns, Raynes, Nelsons, Arbachs, Emericks, Fishers, Gibbs, Linda & Sam, Todds  and her wonderful friend, Makico, in Japan that she saved every letter and gift from her to this day and many more that touched her life.
 
So many wonderful friends and memories imprinted on her life’s book. If she had ever had the chance to write a book, it would have been titled: “Janet’s Life with Family and Friends” she had so many.

She also welcomed all of her children's friends which the list is endless. Friends would come and go and she loved all of her children’s friends - never saying anything bad about any of them even if some friends would cause grief to her children.
 
Upon her Beatrice’s death, Janet and Bob decided to keep her home in Florida. Knowing the cold winters in Michigan, Zephyrhills, Florida seemed to be a better option for her and Bob. So after each Thanksgiving  Holiday, they would pack up their car and head to Florida where they had many wonderful friends.

Janet died on Friday, April 9th in Zephyrhills, Florida of complications from a mixed connective tissue disease that went undiagnosised and misdiagnoised for many many years. She also suffered from severe osteoporosis that crippled her. Janet was the strongest woman inspite of her diseases. She  would always go on and have a smile on her face even if she was in pain.
 
She had the courage and strength to take the bus every Thursday to get her hair and nails done. She made sure that all her family albums were in place and given to her children before her departure.
 
Jeff was hands on with the many doctors caring for Janet at the hospital and with a wink of her eye – he knew what she wanted – peace.

It is the family legacy she wants all of us to remember her by. Remember Janet as a warm, gentle and caring woman who loved to laugh and cry. Release her to God as He will now take her and be with her until we see her again. It is now her time to rest her frail body and be at peace in heaven. As she would have probably said, “Don’t cry for me but rejoice for me.”
 
Janet’s wish is: Keep love in your heart and love one another. And, keep an eye on Bob!
 
Go in peace Janet.  You are loved and will be truly missed

God Looked around
God looked around the garden, and found an empty space. He looked down upon the earth, and saw your tired face. He put his arms around you, and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful for He only takes the best. He knew that you were weary, and He knew you were in pain. He knew that you would never be well on earth again. He saw the roads were getting rough, and the hills were hard to climb. So He closed your weary eyelids, and whispered, “peace be thine.” It broke our hearts to lose you, But you didn’t go alone, For part of us went with you, The day God called you home.

Location:	Lamb Chapel, Howell
	Gathering:	04/15/10, 2:00 PM
	Farewell:	04/16/10 10:00 AM, Borek Jennings Funeral Home Lamb Chapel
	Burial:	Lakeside Cemetery
	Donations:	To Family for Future Designation to Charity

Passed away on April 9, 2010.