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Betty Louise Leverence, age 94, of Burr Oak, passed away Friday evening, August 30, 2024, at Sparrow House Senior Living in Sturgis.
She was born October 11, 1929, in Athens, Michigan daughter of the late Christian and Clara (Draheim) Miller.
Betty resided in Burr Oak since 1953, coming from Nottawa.
On August 8, 1953, she married Keith Charles Leverence at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Colon. He preceded her in death October 21, 2014.
Betty worked alongside her husband as the bookkeeper for Leverence Warehouse in Burr Oak and prior to her marriage she had been employed by the Harvey Paper Company in Sturgis.
She was a longtime active member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burr Oak where she was a member of the Ladies Aid and taught Sunday school. She also held memberships in the Merry Doers Extension and Michigan Farm Bureau. Betty served as a 4-H leader and enjoyed sewing, crocheting, playing Bingo, word search puzzles, and was an avid reader. When she became unable to read due to her sight, she appreciated her books on tape from the Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library. Betty always had a large garden that she enjoyed tending to. Vegetables would be canned and preserved and given to friends and family, which was Betty’s favorite part of gardening. She had hobbies and interests, but what she truly loved and cherished was time spent with her family.
She is survived by her daughter: Kathy (Joseph) Mieras of Sturgis; son: Gary (Rhonda) Leverence of Leonidas; grandchildren: Christian Leverence and Blair (her fiancée Marty Kik) Leverence and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five sisters and five brothers.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00, Friday, Sept. 6th at the Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St. in Sturgis and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 7th at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burr Oak where funeral services celebrating the life of Betty L. Leverence will immediately follow the visitation at 11:00. The Rev. Kurt Kuhlman will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at the Burr Oak Cemetery in Burr Oak. Donations would be appreciated to Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library, 702 W Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48909, St. John’s Lutheran Church, 218 W. Main St., Burr Oak, MI 49030 or Sparrow House 201 Broadus Street, Sturgis, MI 49091.
We encourage relatives and friends to share memories and condolences at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
