Betty J. Matthews

Betty Jean Matthews, 78, of West Branch died Monday, October 4, 2010, at Bortz Health Care of West Branch. She was born January 29, 1932 in Harlem, Montana to Eric Alfred and Maria Mae (Bennett) Engman. She attended the rural Cook School and West Branch High School. After the deaths of both parents, in 1935 she moved to West Branch to be raised as a daughter by her aunt and uncle, Hazel (Bennett) and Edward Cook. In 1949, she married Wayne Matthews at the First United Methodist Church. They raised their family and lived at the same farm throughout their married life. Betty worked as a nurse for many years at Tolfree Memorial Hospital and Dr. Jardine’s office. She changed careers in the 1960’s and went to work for Production Credit Association. She retired in 1989. Her family was of uppermost importance during her entire life and she spent many hours in her retirement years looking after the needs of others. She enjoyed cooking and homemaking. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of West Branch for many years. She is survived by her husband, Wayne Matthews; three children and their families, Glen (Diane) Matthews of Alanson, MI, Philip Matthews of West Branch, and Lorna (William) Eis of Kalamazoo, MI; five grandchildren and their families, Eric Matthews of Chicago, IL, Allen (Elizabeth) Matthews of Chicago, IL , Michael (Melissa) Eis of Acworth, GA, Jennifer (Greg) Raymond of West Branch, MI, and Kristen Eis of Chicago, IL; three great-grandchildren, Lucas Matthews, Brandon Eis and Ryan Eis; a brother Eric Engman of Nashville, TN; two sisters, Gladys Tellessen of Spokane, WA, and Dorothy Wilkie of Camas, WA. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy Gaulin, and two brothers, Olaf Engman and Emil Engman. Visitation for Betty will be held Thursday, October 7, 2010 from 1-9 PM at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch. Her funeral will be held Friday, October 8, 2010 at 11:00AM at the First United Methodist Church in West Branch. Pastor Lisa Cook will officiate. Burial will follow at the Brookside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Betty’s name to the First United Methodist Church, Ogemaw Commission on Aging or the Hospice of Helping Hands.