Bette Jane Carpenter

Bette J. Carpenter, age 100, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in Grand Haven, MI. Born to Emmet and Thelma Faye (Overhiser) Ridley on August 20, 1925, Bette spent her early years on their farm in Casco Twp., MI.

After graduating from South Haven High School in 1942, Bette spent a year majoring in Home Economics at Western Michigan University, then returned home during the war years to work: first on the farm, followed by a short "Rosie Riveter" airplane factory stint, then with the South Haven telephone company, later known as GTE, where her future husband Allan W. Carpenter would spend his career. Upon Allan's return from WWII, Bette and he were married at West Casco United Brethren Church on December 16, 1945, going on to spend 62 wonderful years together, raising a family, living in the Michigan communities of Allegan, Adrian, South Haven, before moving to Spring Lake in 1979.

Bette was indeed a skilled homemaker, but once the children were all in school, she worked outside the home as well, serving as secretary for Allegan Public Schools, then as secretary for ScienTemp of Adrian, MI, along with pre-retirement secretarial and bookkeeping positions in South Haven and Spring Lake, loving all the details and precision of office work. In all these positions, Bette proudly exemplified professional competence in managing business organizational needs of her employers, whether as office manager, bookkeeper, or secretary.

Bette also loved the details and precision of traditional home arts, including baking pies, putting up preserves, and especially knitting, quilting, sewing garments, and making alterations. She made countless holiday outfits, suits, and dresses for her children; she made her own wedding dress as well as one for each of her daughters; and she made beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren.

With Allan, Bette enjoyed traveling, including trips to western American National Parks, to the British Isles, to Western Europe, to the Caribbean, and to the Middle East; their final trip together was to India, re-visiting where Allan had served during WWII. During retirement, they made annual treks to Florida to spend winter months. Favorite local Michigan adventures included tours and parade routes, driving in their restored 1946 Ford, as well as boating and fishing in the Tri-Cities area. Bette's undaunted spirit included a Panama Canal cruise at age 90 with daughter Jewel and at age 95, a Columbia River cruise in Washington and Oregon, accompanied by daughters Jewel and Jane.

Locally, Bette loved and supported her community, as an active member at Spring Lake Christian Reformed Church since 1980, an early supporter of Young Life in the Tri-Cities area, and as a member of Lighthouse Quilt Guild, making baby quilts for single mothers.

Bette is survived in death by her sister, Carole Wyers-Randall; by her children: Jane Sneeringer, Joel (Janis) Carpenter, Jeffrey (Ginny) Carpenter, Jewel (Dan) Brink; grandchildren: Sarah Canter Duncan, Marielle Canter Weikel, Nathan Carpenter, Rebecca Carpenter Bistrow, Andrew Carpenter, Kate Carpenter van den Brink, Aaron Carpenter, Luke Brink, and Emma Brink; and 16 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents: Emmet and Thelma Faye Ridley; siblings: Wayne Ridley, Charles Ridley, Eldon Ridley, Bonnie Dreksler-Bradstreet, Emmett Ridley and son-in-law Bill Sneeringer.

VISITATION: Friday, February 13, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at Spring Lake Christian Reformed Church, 364 S. Lake Ave. Spring Lake, MI. 49456; FUNERAL SERVICE: 11:00 AM, Rev. Brent Pollema officiating. Arrangements via The Spring Lake Chapel of Sytsema Funeral and Cremation Services, 213 E. Savidge St. Spring Lake, MI. 49456.

Please consider signing the family's online guestbook and share memories at https://sytsemafh.com