Betty Jean Swathwood, 84, of Duck Lake passed away unexpectedly, at home, Jul 21, 2018 and went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born in a stone farmhouse on Grovenburg Rd, Mason, MI on Nov 7, 1933 to Fredrick and Loraine (Heil) Janecke. She graduated from Eaton Rapids High School in 1952. She married Keith Swathwood on Jul 8, 1952 in Winston Salem, NC.
Family and friends were very important to Betty, she had a special gift of remembering them on their special day with cards and more importantly a personal phone call, with her singing; “Happy Birthday”, she would always end with, “and May God Bless You!”.
Betty was a good and faithful servant of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She devoted her entire adult life to nurturing and growing Christian faith and values in her children and grandchildren. She was a member of St Paul Lutheran Church of Albion for generations. All of her children were baptized and confirmed there, most were also married there. Many of her grandchildren were baptized at her home church as well.
Keith and Betty just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on Jul 8. They met at the Charlotte Roller Rink and it was love at first sight. Throughout their life together, they enjoyed roller skating, ballroom dancing, cross country skiing, boating, and travel. They were members of the National RV Great Lakers and enjoyed many group outings to various places including the Field of Flight even that they organized at the Battle Creek airshow.
In her younger years, Betty loved to sew, making many of her children’s clothes. She also enjoyed crocheting, surprising all six of her children one Christmas with matching blue (her favorite color) Afghans.
Betty is survived by her husband of 66 years, 2 sons, David (Cathy) Swathwood of Columbus, KS, Daniel (Susan) Swathwood of Louisville, CO, 4 daughters, Denise (Jerry) Longtin of Mesa, AZ, Debra (Gary) Roubal of Saline, MI, Teresa (Daniel) Trubac of Las Vegas, NV, Jeanette (Donald) Russell of Pickerington, OH, 10 grandchildren, Christina Swathwood, Chris Swathwood, Kyle Swathwood, Cara (Aaron) Keup, Karen (Ian) Ferguson, Jenna (David) Szpara, Danielle Trubac, Jeremy (Jennette) Russell, Alex Trubac, Samantha (Steven) Bodell, 6 great grandchildren, Ava, Calah, and Leviticus Keup, Paul and Benjamin Szpara, and Ashton Swathwood, 2 brothers, Robert (Linda) Janecke, Donald (Elizabeth) Janecke, 4 sisters, Patricia (Raymond) Bodell, Nancy (Dan) Tepolt, Susan Janecke, Linda (Barry) Crites and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, John Janecke and Paul Janecke, and infant sister, Mary Lou Janecke.
Visitation will be on Fri, Jul 27, 2018 from 11 am to 12 pm at St Paul Lutheran Church, 100 Luther Blvd, Albion, MI with Funeral Service beginning at 12pm at the Church with Pastor John Cantele officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Albion with a luncheon following at the fellowship hall at St. Pauls.
Memorial contributions can be made to St Paul Lutheran Church.
Arrangements entrusted to J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, 811 Finley Drive, Albion, MI 49224