WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Bette J. Knox, age 83, of Ann Arbor and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at the Arbor Hospice Residence in Ann Arbor.
She was born Aug. 30, 1926, in Bluffton, Ind., a daughter of the late Glenn and Erma G. (Elzey) Ulmer.
Bette had resided in Ann Arbor this past year and prior to that had been a lifelong resident of Sturgis. She graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1944.
On Sept. 11, 1948, in Howe, Ind., she married Robert C. Knox. He preceded her in death on Jan. 25, 1979.
Bette had been employed by the Harter Corp., Formed Tubes, and retired from Rieth & Riley Construction Company in Goshen, Ind., where she was the executive personal secretary to Lee Rieth for many years.
She volunteered for the Sturgis Hospital Auxiliary and the Domestic Assault Shelter. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sturgis, where she was active in the church choir, the hand bell choir, United Methodist Women and for many years enjoyed tabulating the weekly offertory.
She enjoyed crossword puzzles, feeding and watching the birds, reading, and was a big fan of University of Michigan Football.
Surviving are two daughters, Mary J. Diamond of Coldwater and Lisa A. (Brad) Stegemann of Dexter; one son, Robert A. (Olga) Knox of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; five grandchildren, Mark (Holly) Diamond, Kristin (Chad) Cook and Amy Diamond, all of Coldwater, and Jacob and Nicole Stegemann, both of Dexter; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a sister, Mary Weiland; and a brother, Charles W. “Bill” Ulmer.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 6–8 p.m. Thursday at the Hackman Family Funeral Home Hackman Chapel.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Bette J. Knox will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Robert Keim officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
The family suggest memorial donations be directed to the First United Methodist Church, 200 Pleasant St., Sturgis, MI 49091; Arbor Hospice Residence, 2366 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48170; or the Salvation Army, 105 N. Fourth St., Sturgis, MI 49091.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
