Judith R. Betts

Judith Rose Betts, age 78, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2024 at her home. She was born on October 3, 1945 in Scottsbluff, NE to Alvin Sprecher and Rose Lesch Sprecher. Judy was a precocious and willful child, who at age three declared that she would "no longer be taking naps." At age five she insisted her father drive her to the local library to start taking books out. She secretly practiced writing her name beforehand because she knew that was required to obtain a library card.
Despite her family's living comfortably but thriftily on her father's salary as a pastor, Judy's mother exposed her to culture, music and the benefits of buying well-made clothing that lasts. Judy was a quick study-learning to play piano and to prefer expensive designer brand clothing early on.
At age 18 she literally shouted to the heavens that she wanted to experience EVERYTHING life had to offer, which she embraced throughout her life, though sometimes painfully.
Judy graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1963, where she participated in dance, drama and the Madrigal choir. After graduation she joined the Teen Challenge anti-drug movement.
She was married briefly to and had a son, Nicholas, with the charming, charismatic Teen Challenge counselor, who later proved to also be abusive and incapable of stopping his own drug use. Following a tumultuous divorce, Judy and Nicholas moved to the Detroit area to start fresh.
After a period of taking one unsatisfying job after another, she eventually opened a daycare center with two friends. This small step sparked a desire to work professionally in human services. Hence, she began college at Wayne State University in the late 1960's, which became a two decade journey.
Upon completing her Bachelor's degree, Judy became a counselor for Michigan Rehabilitation Services where she ran a program that was wildly successful at training and placing intercity youth with disabilities into jobs. She also met and married her husband, Jack, also a rehabilitation counselor at MRS. The couple were married on December 9, 1972, nearly 52 years! They made their home in the University District and in 2009, Judy was recognized with the Spirit of Detroit Award for being one of the creators of Walker-Stennis Orchard and Park. Her personal home garden was selected to be showcased in the University District home and garden tour in 2002, which was a source of enduring pride.
While still employed at Michigan Rehabilitation Services, she began graduate studies to earn a Master's degree, and eventually a doctorate in psychology. However, due to ongoing struggles with MS, she could not complete her dissertation in the allotted time period after completing her doctoral coursework. Nevertheless, Judy had received her limited psychology license upon finishing her Master's degree, which allowed her to practice.
She left her rehabilitation counselor position to work as a psychologist at Henry Ford Hospital and then managed a new teen pregnancy prevention program in the hospital's Obstetrics Department. This program was so successful at reducing the incidence of high-risk births and infant mortality that it received a very significant grant to expand the program from Easter Seals National. Despite her love for that program, Judy decided to work as a private practice psychologist so she could work fewer hours and better manage her MS symptoms.
Unfortunately, her MS symptoms, along with her coexisting conditions of arthritis, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy and Parkinson's Disease, continued to worsen over the years, and she eventually retired to engage in less demanding pursuits. Judy enjoyed writing, reading, painting, stained glass art, home design and gardening. Judy also loved watching sports with her family-especially Michigan and Detroit Lions football.
Judy was a bright, loving, giving, inquisitive and intense human being who took everything life threw at her, but who did not go gently into that good night. Instead, she raged raged against the dimming of the light.
Beloved wife of Jack Betts. Loving mother of Nicholas. Dear sister of Timothy (Dee) Sprecher and Jonathan (Wennie) Sprecher.
Services will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024. In-State 10 am until time of funeral Mass 11 am at Gesu Catholic Church, 17180 Oak Dr., Detroit. Share your memories at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Michigan Humane would be appreciated ~ www.MichiganHumane.org.