Betty Louise Heid, 95, of Fife Lake, passed away on Jul 12, 2017 at Munson Medical Center. She was born on Apr 23, 1922 in Fife Lake to the late Brady W and Emma Jean (Rancour) Clark. Betty went to school in Fife Lake and Lansing, then graduated in 1940 from Cadillac. She married Tom Kelley later that year and went on to have three children: Karen, Linda, and John.
They separated in 1954 and in 1957 Betty married Leonard Birgy and they moved to Mt Pleasant. Together they had Jim, and along with Leonard’s boys John and Dan, made a family of four boys and two girls. Betty went to work in housekeeping for the Mt Pleasant State Home and Training School, working there for 10 years. In 1968 they returned to Fife Lake and Betty worked as a cook at Forest Area, eventually becoming head cook until her retirement in 1982. Leonard passed away in 1978.
When Betty retired, she studied and received her Real Estate License. A business she worked in for over 30 years. Betty eventually remarried in 1995 to Ed Heid, adding Ed’s children Mick, Linda and Ed to the family. They enjoyed traveling, especially to Florida and Arizona in the winter months. Ed passed away in 2004. Betty was always very involved in her community; she was a member of the Arbutus Rebekah Lodge since 1946, as well as serving as clerk, treasurer, council member, and planning commissioner for the Village of Fife Lake for over 25 years. She was also a charter member of the Fife Lake American Legion Auxiliary Post 219.
Betty is survived by her children: Karen (Richard) Schmidt, Linda Forwerck, John Kelley, and Jim (Georgie) Birgy; grandchildren: Mary Jean, Jodi, Erin, Ben and Tommy; seven great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; as well as 11 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren from her marriages to Leonard and Ed; and many relatives and friends that always held a special place in Betty’s heart.
She was preceded in death by her siblings: Devere, Marjorie, Kathryn, Jean, Frances, Bill, and Betty. Recently she was able to enjoy the company of many family and friends when they celebrated her 95th birthday this spring.
A funeral service will be held at 2:30pm on Sat, Jul 15, 2017 at the Fife Lake United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fife Lake Area Ambulance Authority, 134 Morgan St, Fife Lake, MI 49633 or the United Methodist Church at 206 N Boyd St., Fife Lake, MI 49633. Also a contribution may be made to the family at P.O. Box 191, Fife Lake, MI 49633.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kalkaska Funeral Home and Cremation Services.