Betty L. Velthouse Green Vrabec

Betty L. Velthouse Green Vrabec, 84, of Dowagiac, MI, passed away Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac with Rev. Scott Stambaugh officiating. Burial will follow at South Wayne Cemetery in Dowagiac.  Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to Crohn’s and Colitis foundation or Paralyzed Veterans of America.  Those wishing to sign Betty’s Memory Book online may do so at www.clarkch.com. Betty was born December 9, 1932 in Dowagiac, one of eight children, to Henry and Beatrice (Brookfield) Velthouse. They were raised in a loving home surrounded by woods down a long lane on Rudy Rd. She went to school at Rural Gage. She was a long time member of the Women’s of the Moose Chapter 1508 and was known for her salads. On September 27, 1947 she married Ernest Green, he was her true love and it was a love without end.  They moved to Hartford, MI in 1960 and returned to Dowagiac just 9 years later.  Betty worked at Adams Electronics in Bangor, MI and Sealed Power in Dowagiac before retiring. She worked alongside Ernie in his ministry with the Assembly of God Church, serving God up until the time of his death in 1988.  Betty married James Vrabec on October 1, 1993 and enjoyed much time at their home on Priest Lake before his passing on May 15, 2004 Betty is survived by four of her children; Ernestine (Rick) Bachman, Laurel (Cheryl) Green, Freida (David) Dorman and Denise (Steve) Deming-Szymonski; fifteen grandchildren; Christina Green, Brian Green, Krissi O’Brien, Amy (Ray) Gendron, Michael (Suzanne) Dorman, Aaron Elizabeth (Todd) Valdes, Charlie (Amanda) Green, Anne (Matt) Smith, Andy (Kristen) Bachman, Jenny Green, Vanessa Wilmoth, Rebekah (James) Moore, Bill (Chelsie) Deming, David (Mandi) Deming and Eric Szymonski; great-grandchildren Desiree, Austen, Allison, Skylar, Noah, Lauren, Cade, Ashly, Kacy, Kammi, Asa, Alice, Merritt Bolly-O, Lincoln, Tyler, Carter, Elly, Abby Lou, Kate, Addisyn, Drake Henry, Grady, Ava, Jay, Cody, Cayden, Daphne, Jamie, Jacob, Isacc, Austin, Elianna, Brynn, Zara, Zane, Gunner, Alexandria, Harper and Raelyn; great-great-grandchildren Soleil and Devin; brothers Larry (Lucella) and Ted (Bonnie) Velthouse; sister, Beverly (David) Rank; aunt, Glennie (Brookfield) Wilson; sisters-in-law, Barbara Green, Phyllis Green and Barb (Green) Sweet and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and her husband’s Ernie and Jim, Betty was preceded by her daughter Kathy Lou Sells; great-granddaughter Cheney Marie; sister, Delores Huff; brothers, Henry, Kenneth & Robbie Velthouse and son-in-law James “Buck” Deming.