Betty June Miller

June 25, 1929 – January 7, 2020

Brentwood, California

Betty was born to Ethel Mae (McCormick) and James Theodore Kifer in the farm country of Holland, Missouri. At the age of 10 she lost her mother and then helped in raising her younger siblings, Letha Mae and James Cleveland, as her father tended the farm. She spent time living with her grandparents, many aunts and uncles, some about the same age and younger than her.

During WWII her father took his children to Brentwood, CA where he worked as an essential farm worker. He married Ozell Matthews Ward who had 2 sons. They lived in a house her father built on Sunset Ave. She graduated from Liberty High School in Brentwood at the age of 16 in 1946. The principal allowed her to graduate early as the family was moving back to Missouri. She briefly worked in a restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee and attended some business school classes.

Betty returned to California in 1948. Several of her Kifer aunts and uncles also settled in northern California. She married Marion Lawrence (Larry) Miller 1948. They lived in Richmond and Concord where they raised their 3 children, Jerry, Judith, and Michael. She attended Trinity Baptist Church in Concord where she sang in the choir and participated in dramas put on by the pastor. She also worked in retail sales and real estate. Betty liked to have a beautiful garden with flowers, blackberries, and strawberries. She planted a bountiful apricot tree which provided the fruit from which she made the best apricot pies throughout the years.

When her children were grown Betty and Larry divorced. The children all moved to Washington so she bought a condo in Seattle. She missed sunny California so she returned after 2 years. She settled in Summerset in Brentwood in 2000. She sang with the Summerset Singers until her voice gave out. She participated in bible studies and joined the Red Hat ladies.

In 2010 she married Harold Sagert, a former Summerset resident who had moved to Michigan but returned to visit after a cruise with other Summerset residents. Betty and Harold traveled to Cancun, Michigan, Florida, and a Panama Canal cruise. They bought a larger home in Summerset in 2011. Stroke damage to her memory limited her activities, but they shared their love and affection until the end. She like to sit on the patio watching the birds and enjoying her beautiful flowers. On Sunday she watched the musical religious services on the TV. She passed on to be with the Lord after a stay in the hospital due to an abdominal surgery.

Betty is survived by her husband Harold Sagert, her sister Letha Hutchins, her daughter Judith White, her sons Jerry (Rosemarie) Miller and Michael (Barbara) Miller, 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, an uncle Clarence Raymond Kifer (age 100) and many cousins. She was pre-deceased by her brother James Kifer who left 2 sons and their spouses and children.

Betty was laid to rest Jan. 15, 2020 at Union Cemetery in Brentwood.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2PM on February 22 at the Summerset I Club House. 1675 Crispin Dr., Brentwood, Ca. 94513.

In Lieu of flowers please make donation to charity of choice