Betty B. (Bonisteel) Johnson

Betty Dame Bonisteel Johnson, the 2nd of 5 children and the daughter of Lillian Ellen Coleman and Roscoe Osmond Bonisteel,  was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  When she was 7 years old, she attended her 1st Michigan football game.  In October 2015,  at age 98,  Betty once again enjoyed the Kolis tailgate in the Blue Lot.  Twice Class President at Ann Arbor High School, she was also editor of the newspaper and yearbook.

Upon graduation from high school, she entered the University of Michigan, majoring in sociology and earning her BA in 1939.  While at Michigan, Betty joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, earned a varsity letter in Women's Golf and was a member of the M Club.  She was also on the staff of the Michigan Daily while Mike Wallace was editor.  Betty then earned her teaching certificate at Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti and taught for 2 1/2 years, in Dearborn and Ann Arbor.  An avid golfer, she won the Barton Hills Women's Golf Championship Directors Trophy 3 times, in 1940, 1941 and 1944. 

Michigan Law School was her next pursuit.  In her 1945 law school class which only had 3 women, she met William Judson Johnson of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  After serving in Papua, New Guinea, in the Pacific in World War II, he was taking a refresher law course, having graduated from Michigan law in 1936.  One class short of graduation,  she quit to marry William on March 24, 1945.  He passed away in 1985.  Also preceding her in death were her siblings:  Jean Ellen Bonisteel Knecht of Evanston, Illinois;  Frances Coleman Bonisteel Fisher of Mendham, New Jersey;  Nancy Ann Bonisteel Calcutt of Traverse City, Michigan;  Roscoe Osmond Bonisteel, Jr., of Ann Arbor;  1 niece, Mary Ann Bonisteel Alder and 1 nephew, John Allan Fisher.

She was a truly loving, giving and devoted Mom to her 6 children, her 7 grandchildren and her 4 great grandsons.  Her children are Elizabeth (Liz) Judson Johnson of Ann Arbor;  Cidney Ann Johnson Beckwith (Jim) of Auburn, New York;  Roscoe Bonisteel Johnson of Grand Rapids;  Mary Kathryn Johnson of Grand Rapids;  Frances Ella Johnson of Holland;  and Edgar Hare Johnson of Grand Rapids.

She cherished her 7 grandchildren:  Crystina Beckwith Brooks (Joe);  Betty Beckwith Routhouska (Kevin);  Courtney Johnson Norland (Ben);  William James Beckwith;  Benjamin William Judson Johnson (Ashten);  Timothy Joseph Johnson and Bonnie Millicent Johnson and great grandsons:   James Michael Brooks;  Robert William Johnson;  Thomas James Routhouska;  Archie Joseph Beckwith Brooks; and 15 nieces and nephews.

Betty loved spending time with her family and friends.  While her children were young, she successfully studied investments and the stock market, earning the nickname "Horseshoes" by her husband Bill and his friends.  She had 5 stock takeovers in one year.  She was also a master bridge player.   

As a lover of music and the arts, she made sure her 4 daughters had the opportunity to spend many summers at what was then called the National Music Camp, now Interlochen Center for the Arts.  She traveled extensively with Bill.  After he died, she took some Michigan Alumni trips with her sister Fran.  Betty traveled to many states, including Alaska, and overseas,  with her children and grandchildren.

Her daughter Katie designs needlepoint, and as a result Mom took up needlepoint.  Katie has a miniature business, collectible miniatures for adults.   Mom always enjoyed "working" at Katie's miniature shows, in Michigan and out-of-state as well.  When she attended the International Miniature Show in Chicago, she always looked forward to seeing her sister Jean.

Besides playing golf, she loved watching athletics,  attending many sporting events, especially when her children were participating.  For years she enthusiastically supported Michigan Athletics and had season tickets to Michigan football games, initially with Bill, and continued to attend after he died.  She would never miss a tailgate!

She enjoyed involvement in St. Margaret's Guild of St. Mark's Episcopal Church where she also taught Sunday School;  Bread Board of Spectrum Blodgett;  Junior League of Grand Rapids;  Board of Directors of Friends of the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor.  She made generous donations to the President's Club of the University of Michigan (University Musical Society) and the Roscoe O. Bonisteel Library at Interlochen Center for the Arts.  She was a member of Kent Country Club, the Grand Rapids Women's City Club and an honorary member of the Indian Club in Irons, Michigan.

Most of her friends preceded her in death.  In her lifetime she was especially fond of a few close friends and neighbors:  Cindy Burch, Ann Joppe-Mercure,  Jane Murvin, Mary Margaret Rapp and Karen Prussing.  This also includes the following families:  Terrie, Billy and the late Johnny Battjes:  Connie and Jim Christensen;  Betsy, John and Kyle & Win Irwin;  Mary and Steve Kretschman and Heidi and Dr. George Roberts.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 5pm at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 134 Division Ave N, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.  The family will greet friends from 4 to 6pm on Friday at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home and on Saturday one hour prior to the service form 4 to 5pm at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor, Hospice of Michigan, Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, St. Mark's Episcopal Church or the Veterans Home of Grand Rapids.

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