Betty Lake

Betty L. Lake, age 87, of Marshall, MI passed away on July 28, 2022, in her residence at Comfort Care of Marshall (formerly Maplewood) after a brief illness.  Betty was born January 27, 1935, in Albion, MI to Donald M. and Grace A. (Riever) Blodgett.  She graduated from Albion’s Washington Gardner High School in 1952, where she played softball, participated in the Glee Club and Honor Society, and was voted Most Peppy in her class’s 1952 Popularity Poll.

Soon after graduation, Betty was one of George Kibby’s original hires at State Farm’s Regional Office in Marshall and she proved to also be instrumental in helping set-up and implement the Saginaw Regional claims office when it first opened.  Her employment at State Farm lasted many years in various positions, but most employees knew Betty’s friendly face and welcoming demeanor from her time with the State Farm Credit Union.

Betty married Robert “Bob” Lake of Marshall on October 1, 1955, in Angola, IN and they had four sons, who all graduated with honors from the Marshall School system.  Both Betty and Bob were avid golfers and bowlers and played on many leagues together, always willing to “fill-in” at the last minute and proving to be great team-mates.  They were members of the Marshall Moose Lodge for a number of years, as well as the Marshall Country Club.

Betty knew most everyone in Marshall – either through her position as Executive Secretary to the Marshall City Manager (a position she transitioned to after leaving State Farm) under both Chet Travis and Maurice Evans, or through her many years as Marshall Women’s Bowling Association Secretary.  She also held the position of Secretary for the Michigan State Women’s Bowling Association for numerous terms, which afforded her the opportunity to travel to state and national bowling tournaments with Bob and her many bowling friends.

In later years, Betty loved to go to casinos and could often be found celebrating a winning-streak on her favorite kind of Video Poker machine.  She was also devoted to 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles, bird-watching, and following both bowling and golf on TV.  While she wasn’t able to travel or get out much in recent years, she appreciated hearing from friends, playing cards, and catching-up on news of her 8 grandkids and their 13 children.

Betty is survived by her brother and his wife, Ken and Nancy Blodgett of Albion, as well as her sons and their families – Barry Lake of Bloomington, IL; Terry and Cindy Lake of Marshall; Randy Lake of Marshall; and Tim and Terralynn Lake of Winter Haven, FL.  She was proceeded in death by her parents, her sisters Sharon and Sue, and her beloved husband, Bob.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oaklawn Hospital Hospice Program or Great Escape Stage Company.  Details for both can be found at www.kempffuneralhome.com

Visitation will be held at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Service in Marshall on Wednesday, August 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and a private family graveside will be held at a later date.  “Remember: no fighting and there’s milk in the 'fridge.”