Betty Erna Leider

Betty Erna Leider, 87, of Stevensville, passed away, Friday, September 16, 2016 at her home surrounded by her loving family.  Graveside services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, September 24 at Spring Run Cemetery in Scottdale. A Celebration of Betty’s Life was held on August 14 while she was able to enjoy the company of her family and friends.  Memorial donations may be made to Hospice at Home.  Those wishing to sign Betty’s Memory Book online may do at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Betty was born February 24, 1929 in Chicago to Ernest & Pearl (Burkett) Hentschel. On March 13, 1948 she married Richard Leider in Chicago.  Shortly after, the family moved to Southwest Michigan where she gained employment with V-M Corporation in Benton Harbor.  Betty’s main focus was caring for her family and others, first raising her daughters, and later by providing child care for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others in the community for over twenty-five years.  Betty was a member of St. John-St. Bernard Parish in Benton Harbor, and enjoyed ceramics, crafts, needlepoint, going out to dinner and trips to the casino.  She also enjoyed cooking & baking-there was always something to eat when you came to visit.  One favorite memory was the time spent on Paw Paw Lake with Betty driving the boat for everyone to water ski.  She was always concerned about & giving to others. She will be deeply missed by all who knew & loved her.  Betty is survived by her children-Kathleen (Ed) Tebell of St. Joseph, Deb (Glen) Burkett of St. Joseph, Cynthia (Dennis) Forrester of Watervliet, Beth (Joe) Bush of Loganville, GA, Tats (Lauren) Kawasaki of Tokyo, Japan; eleven grandchlldren-Jennifer (Derek) Dunn, Richard (Jen) Tebell, April (Matteo) Mastri, Matt (Carol) Reitz, Josh (Sarah) Forrester, Renee Forrester, Kira (Tony) Parsaud, Nicole (Dusty) Peace, Heather (Casey) Kaid, Jeremy & Andy Burkett; twenty-three great-grandchildren; two sisters-Beatrice Pratl & Jackie (Bob) Harris, both of Stevensville; and her loving friend Louis Sherry of Stevensville. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard on January 27, 2007, her daughter Marian Lee Leider in 1952, and by two sisters-Marian Gieras & Gen Regin.