Elizabeth McDonald

Elizabeth (Betty) McDonald January 22, 1922 - July 8, 2013 Born Elizabeth Ann Dettenthaler in Saginaw, Mi. on January 22,1922, Betty was the eldest of three daughters of Ella and Fred Dettenthaler. After graduating from St. Andrews High School, where she met Jim McDonald, her husband of 65 years, she attended Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. She taught the first four grades in a rural elementary school before joining the war effort in 1942. Betty became one of the first enlisted SPARS, part of the US Coast Guard. After boot camp at Hunter College, NY she was sent to Los Angeles as a recruiter. She was honorably discharged in 1945 as a Yeoman First Class. Betty and Jim, who was a submariner in the South Pacific, were married in December 1944. They raised four children and moved from Saginaw, Mi. to Defiance, Oh to Ann Arbor, Mi. to Bloomfield Hills, Mi. during Jim's career with General Motors where he ultimately became President. They traveled throughout the world meeting with many foreign dignitaries, heads of states, kings and queens, and a very special meeting with Pope John XXIII. She always served as a wonderful ambassador for General Motors and the United States. Betty loved their times in Harbor Springs and Turtle Lake Club in Mi. where she was always active as a skier, a golfer, a fisherman and even piloted a small Cessna. Boating and bridge were great pastimes during her years in Vero Beach, Fl. She also spent many hours volunteering her time at many associations including various hospitals and the Christ Child Society. Her husband, Jim ( F. James) and a son, Dennis have preceded Betty in death. She is survived by a daughter, Marybeth Cunningham (and husband Charles) of Vero Beach, Fl. And two sons Timothy McDonald of Shanghai, China and John McDonald (and wife Jo) of Roswell, Ga. There are seven grandchildren, Melissa Heckathorn, Kelley Zakeri, Scott McDonald, Jason Pallas, Ryan Pallas, Christina Brummel and Anna McDonald, and seven great grandchildren, Natalie, Madelyn and Olivia Heckathorn, Nathan and Lauren Zakeri, Audrey McDonald and Liam Brummel. Betty's sister, Rosemary Konieczka lives in Cincinnati, Oh. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Up With People 6830 Broadway Unit A Denver, Co 80221, Central Michigan University "the Betty A McDonald Children's Library" Park Library 407, Mount Pleasant, Mi. 48859 or Indian River Medical Center Foundation 1000 36th St Vero Beach, Fl. 32960. SERVICES: The family will receive friends today July 10th, 9-10 AM at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach followed by Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church at 10:30 AM. Interment will be with her husband in Michigan. A guest book is available at www.strunk funeralhome.com. Paid Obituary