Valerie Gjukis-Houghton

Valerie “Val” Gjukis-Houghton, Age 75, passed April 1, 2026. Valerie was born on October 31, 1950, in Battle Creek to Peter and Madelyn Gjukis.

Val was preceded in death by her parents, aunts, uncles, brother-in-law Steve Hart and her nephew Mathew Gjukis.

Val grew up in Bellevue and was the middle child of five children. She loved cooking with her Mom and fishing with her Dad and made many memories with her four siblings throughout the years.

Val was very involved with Bellevue Community Schools; she started as a paraprofessional when her daughter Maddie started preschool. Years later she happily accepted the job as the school librarian. Val’s love and knowledge of books and storytelling made her the perfect person for the job. She delighted in helping students, and teachers, discover the book that sparked their imagination and love of reading. She was very active in the Parent Teacher Organization, being a vital part of creating the Annual Elementary Talent Show, as well as the Halloween Carnival; later becoming the very popular fortune teller (in full costume). Alongside one of her best friends, Debbie, they dressed as the mimes Daryll and Darleen to spread laughter to people’s day. Val said she would never forget the donkey basketball game Daryl and Darleen agreed to be pooper scoopers at.

It was also thanks to Bellevue community schools Val met her lifelong friends Debbie Kollar, and Sally Morse. The three of them became family and shared a lot of precious moments together. When Val was having health complications, the two of them were there for her and also the family offering help, support and love. Val loved getting together with her friends, and spending the whole day together going to movies, sitting and talking over a meal, or the occasional casino trip for a birthday.

A big love of hers was camping. She would camp with her family growing up, and the friends she made in her adult life. She especially loved camping at Hog Island campground in the Upper Peninsula. She continued camping with her husband and daughter and several trips included her husband, daughter, three dogs, and a cat, in a pop-up camper. Val was a talented cook over a campfire but also enjoyed relaxing and playing cards or telling stories around the fire with her daughter and husband. When her daughter was younger Val was excited for Maddie’s friend Ashley to camp with them. They travelled all over the U.P. and gave the girls memories that’ll be with them forever.

Val’s cooking and baking will be missed greatly by her loved ones. She could read a recipe and taste it in her mind. You could never ask her for the written recipe because she rarely followed one, she added her own touches to make it her own.

One of her most cherished memories was her 70th birthday trip she took with her daughter. They traveled by car to Yellowstone, Devils Tower, through the Badlands, and to Glacier National Park, where they spent the entire time sightseeing and sharing stories. Val always wanted to be a mom; this allowed the two of them to share a special bond that Maddie will treasure forever. Maddie loved that she got to share her love of travel with her mom. Val took her first plane trip just a few years ago to travel with Maddie to New York City, to see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Val was excited to plan her next trip with her daughter and husband to Arkansas, where she was going to mine a huge diamond that would fund the animal sanctuary she always wanted.

Val was a woman with many hobbies and talents; she was truly an artist with many hats. These included but were not limited to painting, drawing, sewing outfits and costumes, arts and crafts, and almost anything she put her mind to. She and her husband Buck, even did Historical Reenactments before Maddie was born.

Val was a loving mother, wife, sister, aunt and friend, who will be missed by many.

Val was an animal lover, she would pray that all the animals who don’t have homes or good homes would find loving families. For this reason in leu of flowers for the family, donations be made to Center for Great Apes in Lemon Grove, Florida, or

We’d love to share a quote Val wrote,

“There have been times in my life I’ve thought, what would I do differently. I know there were plenty of things I should’ve done different. But I honestly can say, I would not change a thing, even the bad or not so good things. I treasure the people in my life, especially my daughter. All the steps in the journey that is my life have led me to so many awesome memories and so much love. I am content, because of so much good that God has allowed me to experience.”

Surviving is her husband Buck; daughter Madelyn; sisters Susan Hart, Diane (Bruce) Masters, Jenny (Tom) Sadler, brother Peter Gjukis, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Saturday May 2, 2026 at 2pm at the Bellevue Conservation Club.