Betty Ballard
July 13, 1923 - November 18, 2021
Obituary
Betty Jean Ballard passed away at the VA Community Living Center in Saginaw, Michigan at the age of 98 on November 18, 2021.
She was born July 13, 1923, in Whittemore, Michigan the first born to Joseph and Marie Ward.
She graduated from Saginaw High School and served in the Marine Corp from 1943 to 1945. She married Robert Newton Ballard on June 4, 1951, and lived her entire married life in Chicago, IL. After he died on October 4, 1976, she moved to Saginaw, MI.
In 1984, she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was a faithful, active member the rest of her life. She served a full time mission for the church in San Diego, California from December 1985 to October 1986.
Having no children of her own, she chose to be called “Aunt Jean” to everyone. She loved to spend time with family, garden, read, do crossword puzzles, make homemade noodles, watch old movies, and listen to music. She was a big fan of Michigan Football. She loved to volunteer at Handley School, mentor for the Read Association, and work in the Covenant Hospital gift shop.
She was predeceased by her husband, “Bobby”; her parents, Joseph and Marie Ward; her sister and brother in law, Jack and Mary Lou Bruske; her brother, Jack Ward. That will be one amazing family reunion.
She leaves behind nieces and nephews, Bob and Jackie Larsen, Tim and Nan Bruske, Dave and Chris Marsden, and Glen and Dee Robinson; her great nieces and nephews, Paul and Sara Larsen, Jeff and Jessica Larsen, Jeff and Amber Sorensen, Adam and Heather Allgaier, Ashley Andersen, Chelsea Marsden, Derek and Rachel Marsden, Trevor and Emily Smith, Becca Marsden, and Grayson, Rowen and Eden Robinson. She also has twenty-four great great nieces & nephews.
There are no words to express our gratitude to the many health care workers at Covenant Hospital, Healthsource, VA Community Living Center, and Mark Fischer of Fischer Family Funeral Home, who gave her such loving care. Our eternal gratitude goes to her special friend, Libby Wells, for her above and beyond service when it mattered most.
She will be laid to rest at Great Lakes National Cemetery with a Memorial Service to take place in July.
She was born July 13, 1923, in Whittemore, Michigan the first born to Joseph and Marie Ward.
She graduated from Saginaw High School and served in the Marine Corp from 1943 to 1945. She married Robert Newton Ballard on June 4, 1951, and lived her entire married life in Chicago, IL. After he died on October 4, 1976, she moved to Saginaw, MI.
In 1984, she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was a faithful, active member the rest of her life. She served a full time mission for the church in San Diego, California from December 1985 to October 1986.
Having no children of her own, she chose to be called “Aunt Jean” to everyone. She loved to spend time with family, garden, read, do crossword puzzles, make homemade noodles, watch old movies, and listen to music. She was a big fan of Michigan Football. She loved to volunteer at Handley School, mentor for the Read Association, and work in the Covenant Hospital gift shop.
She was predeceased by her husband, “Bobby”; her parents, Joseph and Marie Ward; her sister and brother in law, Jack and Mary Lou Bruske; her brother, Jack Ward. That will be one amazing family reunion.
She leaves behind nieces and nephews, Bob and Jackie Larsen, Tim and Nan Bruske, Dave and Chris Marsden, and Glen and Dee Robinson; her great nieces and nephews, Paul and Sara Larsen, Jeff and Jessica Larsen, Jeff and Amber Sorensen, Adam and Heather Allgaier, Ashley Andersen, Chelsea Marsden, Derek and Rachel Marsden, Trevor and Emily Smith, Becca Marsden, and Grayson, Rowen and Eden Robinson. She also has twenty-four great great nieces & nephews.
There are no words to express our gratitude to the many health care workers at Covenant Hospital, Healthsource, VA Community Living Center, and Mark Fischer of Fischer Family Funeral Home, who gave her such loving care. Our eternal gratitude goes to her special friend, Libby Wells, for her above and beyond service when it mattered most.
She will be laid to rest at Great Lakes National Cemetery with a Memorial Service to take place in July.
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Photos
Memories
DS
Debbie Sheets
Other •
The BEST person to learn about football! Jean was present at many of my childrens Grandparents Days at school, as we had no grandparents nearby to attend. She taught me all about her flower gardens at the Larsen home where she lived for many years.
A true example of selfless service. And she was the only female Marine I ever knew!
SEMPER FI! May the Lord bless and keep you close to His heart Jean.
Till we meet again.
DS
Debbie Sheets
Other •
1 file added to the album Memories Album