Betty Rothenberg

Betty Rothenberg, 80, passed away unexpectedly at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, on Monday, December 6, 2004. There will be a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, December 10, 2004 at Saron Lutheran Church, 510 Main Street, St. Joseph, Michigan with Rev. Gary Cowall, Ph. D. officiating. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 9, 2004 from 6-8 P.M. at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Saron Lutheran Church. Those wishing to send a condolence message or sign the guest book on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Betty Laverne Rothenberg was born June 26, 1924 to Julius & Elsie (Schoberg) Samuelson in Chicago, IL. After moving to St. Joseph in 1942, she married Norman Rothenberg on February 5, 1944 at Saron Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, of which she was a member. Betty loved her church where she has sung in the choir since 1942. She was very crafty and enjoyed sewing, knitting, painting, and gardening. She was an active member of the St. Joseph Senior Center Misfits. She has guided her family with love and understanding, especially delighting in her great-granddaughters – Elizabeth and Emily. She was formerly employed at St. Joseph Office Supply. Betty is survived by Norman, her husband of 60 years; two daughters – Caryl (James) Meister of St. Joseph and Pat (Roger) Dorn of Saugatuck; granddaughter Amie (Bret) Witkowski; and two great-granddaughters – Elizabeth and Emily Witkowski; one brother Robert (Beverly) Samuelson of St. Joseph; and one sister Shirley Timm of Sarasota, FL. She is preceded in death by her parents Julius and Elsie Samuelson.