Betty
Betty J. Barber
Betty passed away surrounded by her family, Friday, June 24, 2016 at Life Care Center in Plainwell.
She was born April 2, 1925 in Grand Rapids the daughter of Paul and Sophia (Marciniak) Waichum. Betty attended Mount Mercy Academy in Grand Rapids and moved to Plainwell after graduation. She had worked at Wieshuiser Paper Mill where she met Lawrence Barber and on January 10, 1948 they were married. Together they had two daughters and she was able to remain at home as they were growing up. Betty lost her husband in November of 1968 so she began working at Kal-Quip and remained there for several years. In the 1980’s Betty moved to Kalamazoo and lived independently until her passing. In her spare time she enjoyed bowling, reading, playing the piano, riding her bicycle and collecting miniature bicycles. Betty loved spending time with her family and had enjoyed camping with both of her daughters and their families along with visits to Washington DC, Virginia, the Mackinac Bridge and Florida.
Surviving are her children, Sue (Jim) Newcomb and Mary Jane Barber- Sleeman; grandchildren, Nathan (Shawn) Newcomb, Corey (Tricia) Newcomb and Matthew (Chris) Sleeman; great-grandchildren, Ally, Kailah and Hailey Newcomb; sisters-in-law, Mildred Bos, Doris Schuiteboer, Beatrice Gauthier and Beverly Gauthier; many nieces and nephews and her special friends, Barbara Hughes and Dottie Goodwin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Robert Waichum, brothers –in-law, Gerald Barber, Roger Gilligan, Howard Stull, Joe Gauthier, George Gauthier, Don Woodhams, Chester Walker, Jay Bos, Mike Schuiteboer and Art Roberts and sisters –in-law, Lillian Stull, Marge Gilligan, Lucille Woodhams, Lucille Barber and Geraldine Waichum.
According to her wishes cremation has taken place.
Friends may visit with Betty’s family Saturday, July 9, 2016 starting at 10:00 A.M. until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 A.M. at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego with Pastor Brian Lutz and Rev. Fr. Alan Jorgensen officiating.
A private family burial of ashes will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Plainwell.
In lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Betty may be made to
Heartland Hospice of Kalamazoo
or to the charity of your choice.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com.
Offer Condolence for the family of Betty J. Barber
Condolence Messages
Lori Franko
June 27, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Sue and Jim
So sorry to hear of your Moms passing. I enjoyed hearing your stories of her. I will tell my Mom to look her up in heaven and they can be friends.
Lori Franko
Reply
Jack & Teri Laster
June 27, 2016 at 6:40 pm
Sue & Jim & family, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Jack really enjoyed talking with your mom & her humor. Hugs
Reply
vanessa
June 28, 2016 at 12:14 pm
sorry for your mom’s passing betty was a great friend to everybody she’ll surely be missed by everyone.
Reply
Doris Schuiteboer Family
June 28, 2016 at 5:46 pm
Please accept our sympathy at this time of loss. Always enjoyed visiting with Betty, it was so nice that she remained in as good of health as she did until just recently. Our love and prayers go out to you and yours.
Reply
Sherri Bronson
June 29, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Mary Jane and Family,
So sorry to hear of your Mother’s passing. Keeping you in my thoughts and my prayers.
Reply
Jodi Stermer/lab
June 30, 2016 at 10:06 am
Mary Jane, your mom was always a smile-I loved working with her.
I cannot forget ” bettybarber.”
Reply
Terry Steinman
June 30, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Mary Jane and Sue, My youth wouldn’t have been the same without “Ornery Betty” and bowling with you girls. I’ll miss her and have many fond memories. Love ya, Terry
Reply
Jeannie Wood
July 3, 2016 at 11:58 am
So sorry to read of your moms passing she was a funny lady I remember her from bowling please pass on prayers for your family from me.
Reply
Madeline Hoppe
July 3, 2016 at 3:02 pm
Angels is watching over you.
Reply
Barbara Hughes
July 6, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Betty will always be my friend in thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Lori Steele
July 6, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Mary Jane and family sorry for your loss. Betty was a great lady and she will be missed.
Reply
Phil Honeysett
July 7, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Sorry for your lost Sue and Jim. I will keep in in my thoughts this weekend.
Reply
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She was born April 2, 1925 in Grand Rapids the daughter of Paul and Sophia (Marciniak) Waichum. Betty attended Mount Mercy Academy in Grand Rapids and moved to Plainwell after graduation. She had worked at Wieshuiser Paper Mill where she met Lawrence Barber and on January 10, 1948 they were married. Together they had two daughters and she was able to remain at home as they were growing up. Betty lost her husband in November of 1968 so she began working at Kal-Quip and remained there for several years. In the 1980’s Betty moved to Kalamazoo and lived independently until her passing. In her spare time she enjoyed bowling, reading, playing the piano, riding her bicycle and collecting miniature bicycles. Betty loved spending time with her family and had enjoyed camping with both of her daughters and their families along with visits to Washington DC, Virginia, the Mackinac Bridge and Florida.
Surviving are her children, Sue (Jim) Newcomb and Mary Jane Barber- Sleeman; grandchildren, Nathan (Shawn) Newcomb, Corey (Tricia) Newcomb and Matthew (Chris) Sleeman; great-grandchildren, Ally, Kailah and Hailey Newcomb; sisters-in-law, Mildred Bos, Doris Schuiteboer, Beatrice Gauthier and Beverly Gauthier; many nieces and nephews and her special friends, Barbara Hughes and Dottie Goodwin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Robert Waichum, brothers –in-law, Gerald Barber, Roger Gilligan, Howard Stull, Joe Gauthier, George Gauthier, Don Woodhams, Chester Walker, Jay Bos, Mike Schuiteboer and Art Roberts and sisters –in-law, Lillian Stull, Marge Gilligan, Lucille Woodhams, Lucille Barber and Geraldine Waichum.
According to her wishes cremation has taken place.
Friends may visit with Betty’s family Saturday, July 9, 2016 starting at 10:00 A.M. until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 A.M. at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego with Pastor Brian Lutz and Rev. Fr. Alan Jorgensen officiating.
A private family burial of ashes will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Plainwell.
In lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Betty may be made to
Heartland Hospice of Kalamazoo
or to the charity of your choice.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com.
Offer Condolence for the family of Betty J. Barber
Condolence Messages
Lori Franko
June 27, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Sue and Jim
So sorry to hear of your Moms passing. I enjoyed hearing your stories of her. I will tell my Mom to look her up in heaven and they can be friends.
Lori Franko
Reply
Jack & Teri Laster
June 27, 2016 at 6:40 pm
Sue & Jim & family, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Jack really enjoyed talking with your mom & her humor. Hugs
Reply
vanessa
June 28, 2016 at 12:14 pm
sorry for your mom’s passing betty was a great friend to everybody she’ll surely be missed by everyone.
Reply
Doris Schuiteboer Family
June 28, 2016 at 5:46 pm
Please accept our sympathy at this time of loss. Always enjoyed visiting with Betty, it was so nice that she remained in as good of health as she did until just recently. Our love and prayers go out to you and yours.
Reply
Sherri Bronson
June 29, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Mary Jane and Family,
So sorry to hear of your Mother’s passing. Keeping you in my thoughts and my prayers.
Reply
Jodi Stermer/lab
June 30, 2016 at 10:06 am
Mary Jane, your mom was always a smile-I loved working with her.
I cannot forget ” bettybarber.”
Reply
Terry Steinman
June 30, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Mary Jane and Sue, My youth wouldn’t have been the same without “Ornery Betty” and bowling with you girls. I’ll miss her and have many fond memories. Love ya, Terry
Reply
Jeannie Wood
July 3, 2016 at 11:58 am
So sorry to read of your moms passing she was a funny lady I remember her from bowling please pass on prayers for your family from me.
Reply
Madeline Hoppe
July 3, 2016 at 3:02 pm
Angels is watching over you.
Reply
Barbara Hughes
July 6, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Betty will always be my friend in thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Lori Steele
July 6, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Mary Jane and family sorry for your loss. Betty was a great lady and she will be missed.
Reply
Phil Honeysett
July 7, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Sorry for your lost Sue and Jim. I will keep in in my thoughts this weekend.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
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