Post-Panama News

Betsy Ross Nummy,88,died on Jan. 19,2012,at Bickford Cottage of Midland.

Betsy was born on Jan. 31,1923,in Bloomington,Ill.,and grew up in Chicago and Wheaton,Ill. Her parents were Orville and Rachel (Lathrop) Ross. Betsy graduated from Wheaton High School,received her bachelor’s degree from Lawrence College in Appleton,Wis.,and then her master’s degree in physical education from Wellesley College. Upon graduationv,she took a job teaching physical education at University of Rochester,where she met and married William R. Nummy on Jan. 29,1949. Bill was hired by The Dow Chemical Co. in 1953,and they have been Midland residents ever since. They had four children,William R. Nummy Jr.,(fiancée Sheryl Guild) of Lansing,Kathleen (Joseph) Mortensen of Midland,Anne (Lawrence) Bolind of Imperial,Pa.,and Kristin (Douglas) Fowler of Midland.

Betsy’s great gift was her ability to make friends. Along with her kindness,her delight in a funny story drew people to her. Betsy loved to laugh,especially at herself. At Lawrence College in her senior year,she was voted one of the four best-loved members of the student body. Betsy continued to make friends all her life,here in Midland and at her beloved Crystal Downs Golf Course in Frankfort. There she played golf,a life-long pavssion,and made many friends with her encouraging ways on the course. She taught all her grandchildren to play golf;they had many happy rounds with her on the beautiful evenings of summer at Crystal Downs. During her membership,Betsy won the Women’s Championship and President’s Cup,and after more than 60 years of playing golf,finally got her hole-in-one from the Number 14 tee at Crystal Downs.

Before biking and exercise were national trends,Betsy was well known around Midland for biking in all seasons and weather. She explained this by saying,“All my life,I have had to move every day until I am tired,”and move she did;along with the biking,she hiked the dunes of Lake Michigan every summer for 30 years,dogs and grandchildren around her,and walked her three successive chocolate Labrador retrievers (Dutch,Baker,and Coco) twice a day until she simply had no strength to do it any longer.

If there was a job that needed doing,Betsy volunteered for it. She liked jobs that were behind the scenes,so she ran the dish room for the huge Thank Offering dinners at the Memorial Presbyterian Church for years,sharpened the pencils in the pews weekly,delivered Meals on Wheels,packed food at the Food Pantry and was a once a Big Sister. She was involved in Girl Scouts as a troop leader and later a trainer for other leaders. She was passionate about volunteering for the Literacy Council,and helped two adults as they learned to read and write in English. Betsy also called on neighbors and parishioners as a regular part of her service to others.

Another life-long joy for Betsy was music;she played clarinet in high school,both in the marching band and in competition,taking firsts in state contests. She played the clarinet often for her family,leading impromptu parades of her dogs and grandchildren through the halls of her house. Later she joined friends in duet with piano,and was a member of the Benzie County Community Band into her 80s. Betsy sang alto for the Chancel Choir at Memorial Presbyterian Church,played handbells,and sang in choirs for seniors in later years.

As a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church,she taught Sunday School for children and in later years for adults. She participated in,and took her turn leading,the Bible Study there for years. She also volunteered at the preschool housed in the church.

The family would like to thank the staff of Bickford Cottage,and her companion,Fonda Little,for their loving care of Betsy in her years there. Betsy is survived by her husband of nearly 63 years,Bill;her four children;and 13 grandchildren,Jonathan and David Bolind,Dan,Kevin and Keith Pickelmann,Melissa (David) Vaughn,Edie (Andrew) Cooper,Brian Nummy and his fiancée Anna Simon,Anne (John Sartorius) Mortensen,Charles (Helga) Mortensen,John (Linda) Mortensen,Andrew (Christine Veenstra) Mortensen,Peter (Kimra McPherson) Mortensen;as well as 12 great-grandchildren. She leaves with the great love of her family,for whom she was wife,mother,grandmother and,to some of her grandchildren,Mommer.

Funeral services for Betsy will take place at 11 a.m.,Wednesday,Jan. 25,2012,from Memorial Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Wallace H. Mayton III will officiate. Betsy’s family will receive friends at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home,1200 W. Wheeler St.,on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.,and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Food Pantry at the Memorial Presbyterian Church,or the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.