Betty Jean Johnson

 

Betty J. Johnson, 82, of Brookston, passed away at 11:31 a.m. Friday, November 3, 2023, at Beehive Homes of Lafayette.

  Betty was born July 3, 1941, in Lafayette, Indiana to the late Merrell and Olive (Ford) Holwerda.  She was a 1959 graduate of Brookston High School (a Brookston Bomber) where she was a cheerleader.  She met the love of her life, Willis Johnson, through her brother, a fellow classmate of his.  She and Willis began dating when she was a freshman and got married as soon as they finished high school.  A love of a lifetime, their marriage was on October 11, 1959, at the Federated Church in Brookston.  Over the next 60 years, Betty and Willis were inseparable.  

  Betty and Willis ran their family business, Johnson Machine Shop and Wrecker Service for many years.  A wonderful and supportive wife and mother, Betty allowed Willis to spend the countless hours working while she did the books and took care of the family.  Betty and Willis were extremely hard workers and also very frugal with their money as they both knew what it was like to do without.  Betty was small in stature but strong and mighty in her devotion to her husband, her girls and her family.  She was dependable daily and worked and hard to transition the business from handwritten statements to the modern computers.  Betty and Willis would retire in 2009.

  To Betty, family was her whole world.  Her voice would light up when her children and grandchildren would call.  Betty was an affectionate and devoted wife; you would rarely see Willis without her and more often than not they were holding hands.  She was a true and pure a mother as there could be.  Betty never missed her daughters high school sporting events and would often take on the role of taxi as she would drive other high school students to the games, even the away games.  After retirement, Betty and Willis spent many evenings driving to watch their grandchildren’s 4H and sporting events.  

  In the community, Betty was very active at the Federated Church, in support of the Brookston Volunteer Fire Department (of which Willis was Chief) and in the Psi Iota Xi sorority and Home Economics Club.  Betty truly modeled what it meant to be a Christian through her service to her family and others.  The Johnsons were staples of the Brookston Community.  Betty had a wonderful relationship with her lifelong friend, Snooky Widmer.

  Surviving are two daughters, Rebecca Batic (Mark) of Lebanon and Lana Howard (Wendell) of Noblesville; her 4 grandchildren, Sarah (Ryan), Zach (Abby), Cole and Clay and her great-grandchildren, Jaina, Isaac, Elijah, Oliver and Becca.  Also surviving is a brother, Myron Holwerda (Carol) of Lafayette and a brother-in-law, Paul Meyers of Fayetteville, NC.

  Preceding her in death with her parents and husband, Willis, is an infant daughter, Kelly Sue, a brother Charles “Chub” Holwerda (wife: Maxine) and a sister, Karen Meyers.  

  Friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston; Rev. David Doles and her friend, Rev. Dr. Lelan D. McReynolds to officiate.  Interment to follow in the Brookston Cemetery.

  Memorials may be made in Betty’s name to the Brookston Fire Department.

  Share memories and online condolences at www.clapperfuneralservices.com