I’ve fought the good fight, I’ve run the good race, I’ve kept the faith”
Bette claimed her victory and left her earthly home on Monday, surrounded by her children at home on the lake.
Bette was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on January 11, 1922. She grew up just down the road in St. Johns, the only child of William and Jessie Atkinson. Following graduation from Rodney B. Wilson High School, she attended Central Michigan University for one year before leaving to find work. During the war years she worked as a secretary at Kelvinator, where refrigerator production was put on hold to build helicopters and plane parts for the war effort. She moved on to work as an operator at the telephone company, where she met her future husband, Ed, over the phone. They were married in 1947 and moved to Washington D.C. where Ed worked in TV repair and where the first of three children, Roger was born. They came back to Michigan and together ran a TV repair shop in Battle Creek for several years until Ed returned to school to earn both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees. To support him and their growing family of 5, Bette went to work for Post Cereals in 1959. Over her long career at Post she worked in Research and Personnel and was active in Professional Secretaries International, an early administrative support networking organization that led to many lifelong friendships with other strong women. She also returned to college in the early 80’s and finished that Associate’s degree so long delayed.
After her retirement in 1986, Bette launched the next chapter of her amazing life, volunteering. She joined the Battle Creek Community Hospital Auxiliary and served in many capacities, including Auxiliary president until she and Ed moved to Traverse City in 1992. After settling into their wonderful new home on Cedar Lake, Bette immediately joined the Munson Auxiliary and also became a Medicare/Medicaid Advocate through Area Agency on Aging, where she assisted other seniors in navigating the insurance maze. Meanwhile at Munson, she could be found in one of many volunteer services of that time including supporting visiting families in the ICU, surgery waiting room, the gift shop, and Munson Manor. She worked on the Auxiliary newsletter, kept the volunteer hours and award records, served as president in 1999 and on the State Board for many years.
After Ed’s death in 2003, she followed her dear friends, Tony and Gillian to Mesa, AZ where she wintered until 2014, when her health made the annual trip too difficult. She loved her months each year in the desert sun but most of all she loved the wonderful friends she made. When she could no longer travel she said it was alright because she also loved Northern Michigan in the winter. She loved the fresh snow and watching the birds at her feeders all winter long.
Bette’s enthusiasm for life never waned. She traveled to Italy twice while in her 80’s. She loved being the revered Italian Mama. She was also loved and revered on this side of the pond by her family and friends. She looked forward to her lunches with Mary Ann and visits from friends, young and old. Her sense of humor and play was immediately obvious. In her later years when the doctors told her to get off the riding lawn mower, she turned her attention to her flower boxes. She gave up her desktop computer for hours spent daily on her Kindle Fire keeping up with her email and the news of the day. She never lost her love of MSU Spartan basketball, a perfectly steamed artichoke, Red Ginger calamari or a fine glass of red wine.
And Bette never lost the love and devotion of her family who survive her and will carry her in their hearts always: Children Roger (Nona), Ed and Chris (Jill); her beloved grandchildren, Kari (Dan) Yonkowski and Traci (Ryan) Bowman; and great-grand children Kelsey and Franklin Yonkowski and soon to be born, Baby Bowman. She is also survived by her favorite fun-loving cousins, Mary Brandt and Alice Pierce and her “like-a-daughter” MarJean Farr.
The family would like to thank all of Mom’s wonderful health care providers at Munson Medical Center as well as Drs. Recchia, Drake, Lyon and Vollbrecht, and Mom’s longtime care givers and helpers, Tonda Taylor and Tina Thomas. The Munson Hospice staff who ministered to her and the family have our deepest gratitude. In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to any of Bette’s favorite charities: The Leelanau Conservancy, Munson Hospice House, Doctors Without Borders, or Habitat for Humanity.
A funeral service honoring Bette will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Reynolds- Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, Michigan, 49684, with visitation one hour prior to the service. In keeping with her last wishes, family and friends are invited to Bette’s afterwards for a final Happy Hour at the lake.
Bette claimed her victory and left her earthly home on Monday, surrounded by her children at home on the lake.
Bette was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on January 11, 1922. She grew up just down the road in St. Johns, the only child of William and Jessie Atkinson. Following graduation from Rodney B. Wilson High School, she attended Central Michigan University for one year before leaving to find work. During the war years she worked as a secretary at Kelvinator, where refrigerator production was put on hold to build helicopters and plane parts for the war effort. She moved on to work as an operator at the telephone company, where she met her future husband, Ed, over the phone. They were married in 1947 and moved to Washington D.C. where Ed worked in TV repair and where the first of three children, Roger was born. They came back to Michigan and together ran a TV repair shop in Battle Creek for several years until Ed returned to school to earn both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees. To support him and their growing family of 5, Bette went to work for Post Cereals in 1959. Over her long career at Post she worked in Research and Personnel and was active in Professional Secretaries International, an early administrative support networking organization that led to many lifelong friendships with other strong women. She also returned to college in the early 80’s and finished that Associate’s degree so long delayed.
After her retirement in 1986, Bette launched the next chapter of her amazing life, volunteering. She joined the Battle Creek Community Hospital Auxiliary and served in many capacities, including Auxiliary president until she and Ed moved to Traverse City in 1992. After settling into their wonderful new home on Cedar Lake, Bette immediately joined the Munson Auxiliary and also became a Medicare/Medicaid Advocate through Area Agency on Aging, where she assisted other seniors in navigating the insurance maze. Meanwhile at Munson, she could be found in one of many volunteer services of that time including supporting visiting families in the ICU, surgery waiting room, the gift shop, and Munson Manor. She worked on the Auxiliary newsletter, kept the volunteer hours and award records, served as president in 1999 and on the State Board for many years.
After Ed’s death in 2003, she followed her dear friends, Tony and Gillian to Mesa, AZ where she wintered until 2014, when her health made the annual trip too difficult. She loved her months each year in the desert sun but most of all she loved the wonderful friends she made. When she could no longer travel she said it was alright because she also loved Northern Michigan in the winter. She loved the fresh snow and watching the birds at her feeders all winter long.
Bette’s enthusiasm for life never waned. She traveled to Italy twice while in her 80’s. She loved being the revered Italian Mama. She was also loved and revered on this side of the pond by her family and friends. She looked forward to her lunches with Mary Ann and visits from friends, young and old. Her sense of humor and play was immediately obvious. In her later years when the doctors told her to get off the riding lawn mower, she turned her attention to her flower boxes. She gave up her desktop computer for hours spent daily on her Kindle Fire keeping up with her email and the news of the day. She never lost her love of MSU Spartan basketball, a perfectly steamed artichoke, Red Ginger calamari or a fine glass of red wine.
And Bette never lost the love and devotion of her family who survive her and will carry her in their hearts always: Children Roger (Nona), Ed and Chris (Jill); her beloved grandchildren, Kari (Dan) Yonkowski and Traci (Ryan) Bowman; and great-grand children Kelsey and Franklin Yonkowski and soon to be born, Baby Bowman. She is also survived by her favorite fun-loving cousins, Mary Brandt and Alice Pierce and her “like-a-daughter” MarJean Farr.
The family would like to thank all of Mom’s wonderful health care providers at Munson Medical Center as well as Drs. Recchia, Drake, Lyon and Vollbrecht, and Mom’s longtime care givers and helpers, Tonda Taylor and Tina Thomas. The Munson Hospice staff who ministered to her and the family have our deepest gratitude. In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to any of Bette’s favorite charities: The Leelanau Conservancy, Munson Hospice House, Doctors Without Borders, or Habitat for Humanity.
A funeral service honoring Bette will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Reynolds- Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, Michigan, 49684, with visitation one hour prior to the service. In keeping with her last wishes, family and friends are invited to Bette’s afterwards for a final Happy Hour at the lake.
I’ve fought the good fight, I’ve run the good race, I’ve kept the faith”
Bette claimed her victory and left her earthly home on Monday, surrounded by her children at home on the lake.
Bette was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on January 11, 1922. She grew up just down the road in St. Johns, the only child of William and Jessie Atkinson. Following graduation from Rodney B. Wilson High School, she attended Central Michigan University for one year before leaving to find work. During the war years she worked as a secretary at Kelvinator, where refrigerator production was put on hold to build helicopters and plane parts for the war effort. She moved on to work as an operator at the telephone company, where she met her future husband, Ed, over the phone. They were married in 1947 and moved to Washington D.C. where Ed worked in TV repair and where the first of three children, Roger was born. They came back to Michigan and together ran a TV repair shop in Battle Creek for several years until Ed returned to school to earn both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees. To support him and their growing family of 5, Bette went to work for Post Cereals in 1959. Over her long career at Post she worked in Research and Personnel and was active in Professional Secretaries International, an early administrative support networking organization that led to many lifelong friendships with other strong women. She also returned to college in the early 80’s and finished that Associate’s degree so long delayed.
After her retirement in 1986, Bette launched the next chapter of her amazing life, volunteering. She joined the Battle Creek Community Hospital Auxiliary and served in many capacities, including Auxiliary president until she and Ed moved to Traverse City in 1992. After settling into their wonderful new home on Cedar Lake, Bette immediately joined the Munson Auxiliary and also became a Medicare/Medicaid Advocate through Area Agency on Aging, where she assisted other seniors in navigating the insurance maze. Meanwhile at Munson, she could be found in one of many volunteer services of that time including supporting visiting families in the ICU, surgery waiting room, the gift shop, and Munson Manor. She worked on the Auxiliary newsletter, kept the volunteer hours and award records, served as president in 1999 and on the State Board for many years.
After Ed’s death in 2003, she followed her dear friends, Tony and Gillian to Mesa, AZ where she wintered until 2014, when her health made the annual trip too difficult. She loved her months each year in the desert sun but most of all she loved the wonderful friends she made. When she could no longer travel she said it was alright because she also loved Northern Michigan in the winter. She loved the fresh snow and watching the birds at her feeders all winter long.
Bette’s enthusiasm for life never waned. She traveled to Italy twice while in her 80’s. She loved being the revered Italian Mama. She was also loved and revered on this side of the pond by her family and friends. She looked forward to her lunches with Mary Ann and visits from friends, young and old. Her sense of humor and play was immediately obvious. In her later years when the doctors told her to get off the riding lawn mower, she turned her attention to her flower boxes. She gave up her desktop computer for hours spent daily on her Kindle Fire keeping up with her email and the news of the day. She never lost her love of MSU Spartan basketball, a perfectly steamed artichoke, Red Ginger calamari or a fine glass of red wine.
And Bette never lost the love and devotion of her family who survive her and will carry her in their hearts always: Children Roger (Nona), Ed and Chris (Jill); her beloved grandchildren, Kari (Dan) Yonkowski and Traci (Ryan) Bowman; and great-grand children Kelsey and Franklin Yonkowski and soon to be born, Baby Bowman. She is also survived by her favorite fun-loving cousins, Mary Brandt and Alice Pierce and her “like-a-daughter” MarJean Farr.
The family would like to thank all of Mom’s wonderful health care providers at Munson Medical Center as well as Drs. Recchia, Drake, Lyon and Vollbrecht, and Mom’s longtime care givers and helpers, Tonda Taylor and Tina Thomas. The Munson Hospice staff who ministered to her and the family have our deepest gratitude. In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to any of Bette’s favorite charities: The Leelanau Conservancy, Munson Hospice House, Doctors Without Borders, or Habitat for Humanity.
A funeral service honoring Bette will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Reynolds- Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, Michigan, 49684, with visitation one hour prior to the service. In keeping with her last wishes, family and friends are invited to Bette’s afterwards for a final Happy Hour at the lake.
Bette claimed her victory and left her earthly home on Monday, surrounded by her children at home on the lake.
Bette was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on January 11, 1922. She grew up just down the road in St. Johns, the only child of William and Jessie Atkinson. Following graduation from Rodney B. Wilson High School, she attended Central Michigan University for one year before leaving to find work. During the war years she worked as a secretary at Kelvinator, where refrigerator production was put on hold to build helicopters and plane parts for the war effort. She moved on to work as an operator at the telephone company, where she met her future husband, Ed, over the phone. They were married in 1947 and moved to Washington D.C. where Ed worked in TV repair and where the first of three children, Roger was born. They came back to Michigan and together ran a TV repair shop in Battle Creek for several years until Ed returned to school to earn both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees. To support him and their growing family of 5, Bette went to work for Post Cereals in 1959. Over her long career at Post she worked in Research and Personnel and was active in Professional Secretaries International, an early administrative support networking organization that led to many lifelong friendships with other strong women. She also returned to college in the early 80’s and finished that Associate’s degree so long delayed.
After her retirement in 1986, Bette launched the next chapter of her amazing life, volunteering. She joined the Battle Creek Community Hospital Auxiliary and served in many capacities, including Auxiliary president until she and Ed moved to Traverse City in 1992. After settling into their wonderful new home on Cedar Lake, Bette immediately joined the Munson Auxiliary and also became a Medicare/Medicaid Advocate through Area Agency on Aging, where she assisted other seniors in navigating the insurance maze. Meanwhile at Munson, she could be found in one of many volunteer services of that time including supporting visiting families in the ICU, surgery waiting room, the gift shop, and Munson Manor. She worked on the Auxiliary newsletter, kept the volunteer hours and award records, served as president in 1999 and on the State Board for many years.
After Ed’s death in 2003, she followed her dear friends, Tony and Gillian to Mesa, AZ where she wintered until 2014, when her health made the annual trip too difficult. She loved her months each year in the desert sun but most of all she loved the wonderful friends she made. When she could no longer travel she said it was alright because she also loved Northern Michigan in the winter. She loved the fresh snow and watching the birds at her feeders all winter long.
Bette’s enthusiasm for life never waned. She traveled to Italy twice while in her 80’s. She loved being the revered Italian Mama. She was also loved and revered on this side of the pond by her family and friends. She looked forward to her lunches with Mary Ann and visits from friends, young and old. Her sense of humor and play was immediately obvious. In her later years when the doctors told her to get off the riding lawn mower, she turned her attention to her flower boxes. She gave up her desktop computer for hours spent daily on her Kindle Fire keeping up with her email and the news of the day. She never lost her love of MSU Spartan basketball, a perfectly steamed artichoke, Red Ginger calamari or a fine glass of red wine.
And Bette never lost the love and devotion of her family who survive her and will carry her in their hearts always: Children Roger (Nona), Ed and Chris (Jill); her beloved grandchildren, Kari (Dan) Yonkowski and Traci (Ryan) Bowman; and great-grand children Kelsey and Franklin Yonkowski and soon to be born, Baby Bowman. She is also survived by her favorite fun-loving cousins, Mary Brandt and Alice Pierce and her “like-a-daughter” MarJean Farr.
The family would like to thank all of Mom’s wonderful health care providers at Munson Medical Center as well as Drs. Recchia, Drake, Lyon and Vollbrecht, and Mom’s longtime care givers and helpers, Tonda Taylor and Tina Thomas. The Munson Hospice staff who ministered to her and the family have our deepest gratitude. In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to any of Bette’s favorite charities: The Leelanau Conservancy, Munson Hospice House, Doctors Without Borders, or Habitat for Humanity.
A funeral service honoring Bette will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Reynolds- Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, Michigan, 49684, with visitation one hour prior to the service. In keeping with her last wishes, family and friends are invited to Bette’s afterwards for a final Happy Hour at the lake.
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