Betty Mae (Newson) Gage

Betty Mae Gage, 72 of Harbor Springs, died February 15, 2018 surrounded by her family.

Betty was born on May 28, 1945 in Petoskey, the daughter of George and Jennie (Gregory) Newson and was raised on the family farm in Boyne Falls.  She graduated from Boyne Falls High School in 1963, one of their 13 graduates, before going to the Muskegon Business School and graduating with a Secretarial Degree. 

On June 27, 1970, Betty married Gerald "Jerry" Gage in Boyne Falls and together they raised their family.   Betty went to work as a Secretary for a Respiratory Therapist at the hospital in Petoskey for many years before becoming a Housekeeper in Wequetonsing.

Betty loved children and taught Sunday School and did daycare for many years and was affectionately known as "the hat lady" at church for the hat she always wore.  To Betty, her family and especially grandchildren and great grandchildren were her life and truly the "Apple of her eye".   She would never miss their sporting activities, be it baseball, basketball, or football and although she suffered much in later years, she always had a smile for the kids.  She was also very proud of her family of patriots, with 3 members being in the Marines, 3 in the Army, 1 in the Navy and 1 in the Air Force.  She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Jerry; 3 children, Rusty (Dora) Gage, Shelly (Tom) Dale, and Lexie Rautio; 12 grandchildren, Jennie, Daniel, Sam, Zack, Nate, Cassie, Josh, Erika, Emily, Ashley, Molly, and Nick; 6 great grandchildren, Tyler, McKenzee, Owen, McKinley, Christian, and Kaylynn; 3 brothers, George, Jim, and Bill; and by 5 sisters, Mary Jo, Karen, Margaret, Patty, and Cindy; as well as by many nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 22nd at 11am at the Stutsmanville Chapel with family receiving friends at the church from 10am until the time of service. 

At the age of 10, Betty began her 62 year struggle with Type I Diabetes and has had to give herself thousands of shots throughout the years.  Because of this, the family wishes for those that want to honor her memory, to make a donation to the Michigan West Great Lakes Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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