Betty Jean Froberg

Betty Jean Froberg, 91, formerly of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, went home to her Lord and Savior and was reunited with her husband Jim on Friday, January 22, 2016 at her daughter’s home in Portage, MI.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 P.M. Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph.  Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville.  Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday and 12:00p.m.-1:00 p.m. prior to Thursday’s funeral service at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Betty’s name may be made to the American Diabetes Association of Grand Rapids.  Those wishing to sign Betty’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Betty was born June 9, 1924 in Benton Harbor to Harley & Lucille (Walters) Richey.  She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1942. On February 7, 1943, in Benton Harbor, Betty married her childhood sweetheart James A. Froberg. At the age of 14 they met when he delivered the newspaper to her family’s home.  Betty worked as a cook for the Benton Harbor Area Schools from 1970 until 1990.  However she considered her most important lifework being a homemaker to her husband and their three children. Betty was a lifelong member of Peace Temple United Methodist Church in Benton Harbor and served as a Sunday School Teacher for 3 year olds. She enjoyed sewing and cooking in her spare time.   Betty is survived by her daughter, Susan (Michael) Topp of Portage, MI; son, James W. Froberg of Franklin, WI; and Sally (Steven) Dennison of Portage, MI; 12 grandchildren, Dawn (Denny) Knoll, Rebecca (Russ) Wolverton, Michelle Saylor, Bryan (Amber) Topp, Ben Zink, Katie (Dave) Matthews, Whitney (Andrew) Mayer, Christa (Joshua) Moxon, and Andrew, Brye, Kiersten and Lainey Dennison; 13 great-grandchildren, Jessica and Lauren Patterson, Evan and Jordan Saylor, Alec and Bryn Topp, Noah, Levi, Judah, Abigail, and Josephine Matthews, Evan and Avery Mayer; and several nieces and nephews.    Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 53 years, Jim in 1996; sister, Evelyn Williams in 2009; and daughter-in-law Lorri Froberg in 2011.