Betty June Lawrenz

Betty June Lawrenz, 96, North Manchester, Indiana, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on April 1, 2023. The daughter of Earl and Mary (Specht) Johnson and eldest sister to Joyce and Patty; Betty was born June 10, 1926, in Diller, Nebraska.

Betty and her family lived in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico; moving often as her father helped build Army bases. Betty met her soulmate, Ralph Lawrenz, at a roller-skating rink in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he was stationed. The two married on July 3, 1944. After Ralph was honorably discharged from the Army, the couple moved to his hometown, Plainview, Minnesota, where they lived for 50 years before moving to Winona Lake, Indiana.  Betty was first a homemaker, raising their two children, Connie and David, and then worked as a clerk in a jewelry store. On October 19, 2009, after 65 years of marriage, Betty lost the love of her life, Ralph.  She then moved to North Manchester and the Timbercrest Senior Living Community.

Betty enjoyed arts and ceramics, especially free hand drawing; a skill she used to personalize her letters, cards, and envelopes. She also enjoyed reading Christian and Amish themed books. She had a strong faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and loved singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School and Bible School.  She still receives cards from her students from Plainview, Minnesota, who fondly recall her kind and faithful teaching.  Currently she was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Manchester.

Betty is survived by her son, David (Tammy) Lawrenz, North Manchester, Indiana; son-in-law, Ron Guetlein, Liberty Hill, Texas; five grandchildren; Michael Guetlein, San Pedro, California, Jon Guetlein, Austin, Texas, Sean Guetlein, San Angelo, Texas, Faith Miller, North Manchester, and Bethany Breitland, Burlington, Vermont; and ten great-grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph; daughter, Connie Guetlein; and sisters, Joyce Bryant and Patty Hunter.

Family and friends may call April 15, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Timbercrest Chapel, 2201 East Street, North Manchester. Funeral services will begin at the conclusion of calling with her son, David Lawrenz officiating. Graveside services will be at 1:00 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery, 421 North Maple Street, Warsaw, Indiana.

For those who wish to honor the memory of Betty Lawrenz, memorial contributions may be made to Timbercrest Charitable Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 501, North Manchester, Indiana 46962.

The family of Betty Lawrenz has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.

Condolences may be emailed to mckeemortuary.com                                           

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