Betty J. Nutt

Betty Nutt enjoyed playing the slot machines, watching car races, and cheering on the Detroit Red Wings. What she loved most of all, however, was her beloved family. Betty devoted her life to caring for those she loved, and passed her wisdom on to her children and grandchildren: the need to support others, taking responsibility for your own actions, and, above all else, the importance of family. Betty’s dedication, integrity, and kindness will live on in the hearts and memories of all those whose lives she touched; she was deeply loved, and will be deeply missed.

In America, the “Roaring Twenties” were a time of economic prosperity and changing social values, including new rights for women, the popularization of radio, and increasing consumerism. Betty was born at the beginning of this exciting decade, on October 24, 1921. Her proud parents, Harry and Jessie (Dalton) Mott, brought the newest member of their family home to the small town of Glenwood, Michigan.

The second oldest child in the Mott family, Betty grew up with siblings Phillip, Henrietta, Janet, Jean, and Larry. Their family also included a pony, which was the centerpiece of many fond childhood memories. Betty’s father, Harry, earned a living as a wholesale florist, while her mother, Jessie, was a homemaker. Betty was expected to help care for her younger siblings, and learned lifelong values of hard work and responsibility from a young age.

The years sped by, and before she knew it Betty had grown into a beautiful young woman. She attended classes at Dowagiac High School, where she would graduate in 1940. Betty shared the privilege of driving the car to school with her sister, Jean. Betty and Jean had a very close relationship, which extended beyond those high school years to last their whole lives.

Betty first met the man who would be the love of her life in a gas station in Decatur, Michigan. The young man, Delbert Nutt, actually owned the gas station, and at first Betty thought him a little arrogant. She eventually agreed to a date, however, and realized that Delbert wasn’t so bad after all. Just as the young couple was falling in love, however, World War II struck and Delbert was drafted into the Army. He was stationed at Camp Cook in California, which was too far away for Betty! She quit her job and drove across the country to California, where she found a new job on the base. The happy couple was married on September 2, 1943, in San Luis Obispo, California, beginning a relationship that would last for almost 70 years.

After the war, Betty and Delbert returned to southwest Michigan, where they settled down to raise a family. As the years went by, they were blessed with three children: James, Susan, and Sally. In the years to come, Betty would look back on the births of her children as the greatest days of her life. Delbert worked hard to support his growing family, while Betty devoted herself to raising the children. She loved being a mother, and supported her children as a den mother, through the PTA, and in countless other ways. The Nutt home was always neat as a pin, and Betty was an amazing cook as well. She made sure that dinner was on the table at 6 p.m. every day – family time – and was famous for her pies and desserts. Family always came first for Betty, and each Sunday was a mini-reunion as the extended family gathered together.

In her free time, Betty loved cheering on her favorite sports teams, the Detroit Tigers and the Red Wings. She shared her love of sports with her husband, and they spent many happy evenings at the Kalamazoo Motor Speedway (Delbert had his own race car). Betty also enjoyed watching harness races at the County Fair, and dog races in Florida. For vacations, Betty and Delbert made many memorable trips throughout the years, including destinations such as Hawaii, Jamaica, and St. Croix. Closer to home, Betty liked to curl up with a romance novel or the latest issue of the National Enquirer.

Once they became “empty nesters,” Betty and Delbert bought a place at Big Fish Lake near Marcellus. Unfortunately, the house burned down only a year later! Not to be deterred, they built a new house in the same location. They also began to winter in Florida, escaping the bitter Michigan winters. They never went until after Christmas, however, and by springtime Betty was already eager to get back to her family. The day came when Betty became a grandmother, and she was delighted to have a whole new generation of children to care for.

Meticulous and hardworking, nurturing and kind hearted, Betty was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members.

Mrs. Betty J. Nutt died on May 31, 2013, at the age of 91. Betty’s family includes her husband, Delbert; her daughters, Susan Bartoletti of Allendale and Sally Gildea of Vicksburg; her daughter-in-law, Sue Hinga Nutt of Kalamazoo; her grandchildren, John (Martha) Nutt, Brian VanLandegent, James (Shannon) Nutt, Jodi VanLandegent, Lisa (Brian)Bartlett, Jennifer Gildea, Andrew (Kali Roseboom) Bartoletti , and Amanda (John) Kakoczki; a step grandson; Jason Hinga, 9 great-grandchildren; her brother, Phillip (Mardee) Mott; her sisters, Henrietta Mott and Janet Knox; and her sister-in-law, Nadine Mott. She was preceded in death by her son, James; her sister, Jean Cole; and her brother, Larry Mott.

Learn more about Betty and visit with her family and friends on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson- Paw Paw, 60900 M-40 (657-3870). Funeral Services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the same location. Memorials may be made in memory of her son James Nutt to the West Michigan Cancer Center. Please visit Betty’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.