Obituary: Betty Hargreaves, 82, Victory Township.

Betty Hargreaves

Betty Joan Hargreaves, 82, of Victory Township, former longtime resident of Manistee, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 with her husband Charles by her side.  Betty was born on December 24, 1933 in Custer, the daughter of Herman and Dollie (Goff) Peterson and graduated from Custer High School.  On November 12, 1976 she married Charles F. Hargreaves at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ludington, and they have celebrated 39 years together.

Betty and Charles lived in Manistee for 27 years before moving to Victory Township.  Together they were members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ludington, charter members of the Pere Marquette Historical Motor Club and of the Western Michigan Old Engine Club.  Betty enjoyed traveling with Charles around the country and to England.  They often visited old engine and auto shows, stopping at flea markets along the way to hunt for the rare antique dishes that she loved to collect.  Betty also liked to spend her time painting, playing the piano, and wrote articles for the local newspapers, including the Mason County Press, on occasion.

Betty was preceded in death by her infant son Robert Neilsen, her stepson Paul Hargreaves, and her brothers Carl, Herman, and Harry Peterson.

Betty will be lovingly remembered by her husband Charles, her sons Russell (Diane) Neilsen, Donald (Jackie) Neilsen, and Norman (Jenny) Neilsen all of Ludington, and her daughter Alice (Joe) Boullion of Holland.  She will also be missed by her stepdaughter Virginia Scheib of Pensacola, Florida, her stepson Timothy (Theresa) Hargreaves  of Cedar Springs, 17 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great, great-grandchildren, her sisters Mildred Hunter of Wyoming, Michigan, and Jeanette (Ken) Pryor of Ludington, her brother Bill Peterson of St. Charles, Missouri, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held for Betty at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 16 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church with The Rev. Mick Shriver officiating.  Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Custer next to her son Robert.  Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services – Stephens Funeral Home in Scottville, and on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church.  Those who wish to remember Betty with a memorial donation are asked to consider Harbor Hospice, Meal on Wheels, or Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Please visit Betty’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to leave a tribute of Betty for her family, or to light a candle in her memory.