Betty Johnson

With a keen, artistic eye, Betty Lavon Johnson earned a reputation as a collector and decorator and country painting. She used these skills to make her home especially comfortable for her family and friends. However, it was Betty’s own presence that always brought a room to life. As a mother, grandma, and wife, she was always full of love, and each day she tried to share her happiness with the people closest to her. Like her art, she was unique and special, a woman who will be treasured in the memories of many.

In the year 1922, America was in the midst of the Roaring ‘20s, an era marked by prosperity, big band music, movies, and radio dramas. With the First World War receding into history, many Americans turned themselves over to the pleasures of this new peacetime. But for Harold Linkens and his wife Fannie Lettinga, their greatest pleasure came on July 18, 1922 with the healthy birth of their daughter Betty in their hometown of Grand Rapids.

Betty grew up with the company of her sister, Peggy. The Linkens family lived on the North End of Grand Rapids, where Betty attended East Leonard School before moving on to Creston High School, where she graduated with the class of 1941. At Creston she was a member of the Camp Fire Girls and the Amicitia Club, the Latin meaning “friend.” During her high school years, Betty dedicated her free time to a part time job at both Malecki Music Store and a downtown dime store. Like her sister, Betty was raised in the Creston Christian Reformed Church, where she first learned the fundamental lessons of her Christian Faith. These principles would continue to guide her throughout her entire life.

Betty’s experiences at Creston High School were particularly memorable, for this is how she met the love of her life, a handsome young man named Ed Johnson. Ed was a member of the Senior Scout Program; during his sophomore year, the Navy Band was going to perform at Grand Rapids. Ed and his Senior Scouts decided to attend the performance as a group. They all wore their uniforms and asked girls to join them as dates. Ed had never dated before, but he eagerly asked Betty to accompany him on this evening. She was able to obtain permission from her mother, and together they attended this concert on September 27, 1939, marking the beginning of a lifelong relationship. On the 27th of every September, Ed would send Betty flowers or a card. He never dated anyone else, nor did Betty. Five years later, on September 8, 1944, they were married.

After their marriage, Betty and Ed settled into a home on Cedar Street on the North side of the city. Betty worked at General Metal Products as a secretary, a job she had held since her graduation from high school. She continued to work there until the year 1947, when she and Ed welcomed their first and only child Belinda into their home. Soon after the young family moved to Cedar Street Northeast, where they would live for the next couple years. In 1950, they moved again to a house directly across the street from Betty’s parents. Betty always had a close relationship with her mother, and she liked the idea of mother, daughter, and now granddaughter spending lots of time together. The Johnsons would later move once again, this time settling into a house on Northwood NE, where Ed and Betty spent many happy years together. At a later time, they joined Riverside Christian Reformed Church where they quickly became active members and formed many friendships. While Belinda attended Creston Christian School, Betty kept busy with the ladies tea group that often lent a hand to the teachers and the school by supporting many fund-raising activities. She was also active with various ladies groups at Riverside Christian Reformed Church.

Throughout her years, Betty earned the reputation as both a collector and a decorator. She was a member of the Antique Club and the Michigan Egg Art Association, a group that decorated real eggs in the style of the famous “Faberge Eggs,” which were made from precious metals. She collected many dolls and enjoyed displaying her collection to friends and family. Betty put her artistic intuitions to the test when it came to decorating. During the Christmas holidays, it was not uncommon for her and Ed to decorate up to six trees in their house. This was a long project requiring many hours of effort, but Ed and Betty enjoyed the opportunity to spend time together.

Betty and Ed also owned a cottage on Bostwick Lake in Northern Kent Country where they spent many summers entertaining family and friends. Betty turned the cottage into a special home by decorating it in her own unique way, using many of the antiques that she and Ed collected. Shortly after they had purchased the cottage, she spent one summer painting the complete exterior by herself. After selling the cottage on the lake in 1984, Betty and Ed purchased a sailboat on which they liked to take short trips on Lake Michigan; the boat had been docked at Anchorage Marina for several years. They spent many summers living on the boat. Betty, with her keenness for decoration, gave the boat her special touch by designing its interior.

In addition to her decorating skills, Betty’s artistic side showed in a variety of things, some of which were very unique. She and Ed had collected discarded wool garments, which they cut into strips to make carpeting for their home. After the material was prepared it was sent out to be "loomed" into the final product. It was a long project, but Betty took pride in a job well done. Betty also enjoyed country painting and decorative sewing, like doilies and other fancy work.

As Belinda grew, Betty and Ed and Belinda travelled to many places in the United States and later Betty and Ed even made a trip to Europe. They continued to take short trips on their sailboat. In their later years, Betty and Ed enjoyed spending their winters at their condo in Florida. They would always make the trip by car—and the car was always loaded with supplies—and they enjoyed the long ride together.

Betty loved the company of her daughter and son-in-law, Belinda and Bob, and she was especially thrilled by the blessing of her grandsons Ryan and Andrew. Betty loved to stay close to her family, and she will be remembered as a loving wife, generous mother and grandma, and a good friend in her church, clubs, and among her relatives.

Betty died on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 and went to be with her Lord and Savior. She is survived by her husband, of 60 years, Edward Johnson, her daughter and son-in-law Belinda and Robert Gritter, her grandchildren: Ryan (Kristine) Gritter, Andrew Gritter, a great granddaughter Verity, her brother-in-law Gene Suess, an aunt Helen Lettinga, a niece, two nephews, great nieces and nephews and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her sister Margaret (Peggy) Suess. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 10 A.M. at the Van Strien – Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E. with Rev. Matthew Palsrok officiating. A time of fellowship, with Betty’s family will follow the memorial service at the funeral chapel. For those who wish, memorial contributions to Hospice of Visiting Nurses or the Alzheimer’s Association would be appreciated. Please visit Betty’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory with the family or sign the online register book.