Bettye Jane Link, age 97, formerly of Rockford and Royal Oak, was welcomed home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 from Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital.  The daughter of Lewis Eldon & Esther Pearl (Schwalm) Duerr, she was born on September 29, 1922 in Bad Axe.

After graduating high school, she attended the former Ferris Institute in Big Rapids (now Ferris State University) and on January 8, 1949, in Bad Axe, she married John Albert Link, Jr.  Together they raised two children and made their home first in Roseville and later in Royal Oak.

They had been members of Calvary Baptist Church in Hazel Park, where Bettye volunteered as the church clerk (transcribing and typing their pastor’s sermons to be distributed to the homebound…  long before cassette tapes, CD’s, and webcasts were ever even imagined), as well as in the nursery and with Sunday School.

In retirement, she and John made their home in Rockford where they had attended West Cannon Baptist Church, and more recently Bettye attended Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville with her family.  Bettye enjoyed knitting, crocheting, crossword puzzles, and baking… especially her homemade pies.

She was preceded in death by her parents;  her husband, John A. Link, Jr. on September 1, 2007;  and her only sister, Donna Duerr.

Surviving are her children, John L. & Susan Link, and Nancy & Denny Richards;  grandchildren, Sara & Isaac Reichardt, Laurie & Richard Freeland, John H. & Kristy Link, Katie & Philip Reichardt, Kelly & Ben Bratka, Cory Richards, and Michael Richards; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Graveside committal services are at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at Oakfield Township Cemetery, with the Rev. Dale Miller officiating.  Instead of flowers, Bettye would have appreciated contributions in her memory to Rest Haven Homes, Inc., 1424 Union Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49505.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Bettye’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit:  www.MichiganCremation.com  Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Christiansen’s Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, (616) 754-5638.