Betty Salisbury

With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Betty Salisbury lived fully in the moments she was given while holding her loved ones near. She loved traveling and saw so many of the most beautiful places the world has to offer, but what made these experiences so extraordinary was sharing them with her family and friends. A loving wife and devoted mother. Betty was filled with unspeakable joy to witness her family tree blossom to include the grandchildren and great-grandchildren she adored. A longtime resident of the community she loved, she was gracious and genuine towards all who were within her reach. Deeply loved, Betty will never be forgotten.

The 1920s were primarily a prosperous time when we celebrated advancements like more affordable cars mass produced on assembly lines, motion pictures in both color and sound, and radios that brought the world around us within our reach. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1927 that was a time of great celebration in the lives of Charles and Martha (Lamphere) Wilson as they announced the birth of the baby girl they named Betty L. on November 19, 1927, in Cadillac, Michigan. She was the sixth of seven children in the Wilson family as she was raised alongside her two brothers and her four sisters. To support their family her father worked in the logging industry and also with the railroad at times while her mother was a busy homemaker.

It was when she was about 17 or 18 that life was forever changed for Betty as it was then that she met the young man who would forever hold the key to her heart. His name was Mark Salisbury, and they met at The Hole when Betty was supposed to be at a church Christmas party. The way they met was rather unconventional as they were actually arguing over whose turn it was at the jukebox. Of course Mark made it look like she won the argument, and the rest is history as they say. They began dating, and it wasn’t long until they found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Betty and Mark were married on September 7, 1946, in Cadillac. They moved to Kalamazoo in 1946, and in 1950 they moved to the Vicksburg area where they spent the rest of their lives. Together they welcomed their daughter, Sally, into their hearts and home. As a mother Betty was second to none, and her family always came first. She enjoyed cooking for her family, and she also did a lot of canning. It was always a special treat when Betty made her famous candy and fudge.

As her family and friends can attest, Betty was forever on the go. During her younger years they were active in the Colon Grange and St. Joseph County Farm Bureau, and for 40 years they were members of the West Mendon United Methodist Church. To say Betty enjoyed traveling may be putting it lightly as it is easier to name the countries she hasn’t seen as opposed to all the countries she has traveled to. She especially loved cruises, and for 22 years she wintered in Arizona. Betty was known as an avid Tigers fan, and she enjoyed taking bus trips to Tigers games or to Chicago for shopping trips. Later on, Betty and her husband loved taking their grandchildren on trips. She enjoyed doing crafts, and for a time she worked as an inspector for Beach Products. Betty loved visiting the casinos and playing the slots, and while living in Arizona they volunteered at the Arizona Diamondback baseball games. When it came to music, she was a country fan.

Throughout her rich and rewarding life, Betty Salisbury was a blessing to everyone she met. She was the kind of person who would give the shirt off her back if they asked for it, but, they better deserve it! Betty was deeply devoted to her family, and she was almost always right no matter what it was about. A woman of faith, she was a true inspiration. Life will never be the same without Betty here, but she leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

Betty L. Salisbury, of Mendon passed away on Friday, August 26, 2016. Betty’s family includes her husband, Mark; daughter: Sally (Walt) Garrett, of Holland; adopted sons: Jeff (Polly) Hollenbeck, of Portage; and Larry Hollenbeck, of Kalamazoo; three grandchildren: Shannon Garrett, of Holland; Tracy Garrett, of Holland and Kristina (James) Shoulders, of Zeeland; two great grandchildren: Isabella and Eligh; and many nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 31st at 11 a.m. at the West Mendon United Methodist Church, 22994 Portage Lake Road, Mendon. The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. and then also one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Burial will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Please visit Betty’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign her guestbook and share a memory and/or photo. Those who wish may make contributions to the West Mendon United Methodist Church c/o parking lot fund. The family is being served by the Life Story Funeral Home, 409 S. Main, Vicksburg (269-649-1697).