Elizabeth "Betty" Brenner

Betty Brenner passed away on Monday, April 8th at the age of 86. Betty, a long-time Flint resident was born in Kalamazoo. She graduated from Kalamazoo College with a degree in English and from Michigan State with a graduate degree in journalism. She worked for both of the newspapers in Anchorage, AK, spending 4 years there. She loved Alaska and felt a lifelong connection to it. She returned to MI in 1960. She worked for the American Baptist Monthy magazine in Philadelphia for 4 years. She joined the Flint Journal in 1965 and worked as the Journal's first female copy editor. After doing some investigative reporting, she became responsible for the religion section, enhancing it from press releases to news and human interest stories related to the area's religious organizations. She enjoyed interviewing people of various backgrounds and histories. Her most famous interview subject was Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace prize winning author of the book "Night", who survived Auschwitz concentration camp. She earned numerous awards during her long and prolific career. In 1979 she received the prestigious international William E. Leidt award, after receiving an honorable mention in 1978. She was named top religion writer in the country by the Religion News Writers Assoc. Numerous other jounalistic and writing honors were bestowed upon her. She retired from the Journal in 2001. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Lucille and Marshall, and her brother, Jack. She is survived by her two nieces, Michele and Cindy and two cousins, Tama and Mary. Her sister-in-law of 63 years, Patricia, also survives her. Her family gathered at the graveside in Lakeview cemetery in South Haven. A small memorial luncheon was held at the Masonic Temple dining room in Flint. Betty loved covering religion, of which her perspective was broader than most of her era. She was once quoted as saying, "Religion is not just what's going on in church on Sunday morning, it's relating yourself to God or whatever out there you believe in."