Betty Jane Adams

Betty Jane (Johnston) Adams died January 11, 2018 in Rockford, IL.  She was born Nov. 28, 1931, in Chicago, IL, to Edward and Edna (Kreft) Johnston.  Betty attended Farnsworth School in Jefferson Park and graduated from Taft High School in 1949.  She met and married Linus C. Adams (Len) her husband of 45 years at Jefferson Park Bible Church.  They married on Nov. 17, 1951, and raised their three children Lon, Jim, and Diane in Des Plaines and Arlington Heights.

Betty was a creative do-it-yourself homemaker.  She was an excellent cook and baker and loved to sew and quilt.  Wandering around Hagenbrings, Minnesota Fabrics, and JoAnne Fabrics looking for the perfect fabric and pattern was her idea of fun.  Any type of craft, embroidery, knitting, painting a picture or a room kept her busy when she was not sewing.  Both flower and vegetable gardening were things she enjoyed as well.  She always had sewing projects and home improvement projects underway. She was a faithful supporter of her husband, Len’s unique hobby of breeding, raising, showing, and judging parakeets (budgerigars).  She willingly agreed to let him house 300 birds in the basement, accompanied him to far flung bird shows, and visited random aviaries on vacations over the years. She was an easy going, calm, upbeat, woman who was quick to smile and engage others in conversation.

For many years she worked as a secretary for Emerson Electric Co. and later for Landmark Homes and T-Wack Software.    Her love for God made her involvement at Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church (now The Orchard) an important part of her life for 50 years.  She volunteered in many capacities over the years such as directing VBS, working in the church library, Missions committee, counting the weekly offering, and varied other committees.  After retirement she also volunteered at Prospect Hts. Library and tried to read as many of their books as she could. The family is grateful for the loving care given to her the past 3 years at Anam Care in Rockford.

Survivors include son, James (Kim) Adams of Arlington Hts, IL; daughter, Diane (Paul) Geddes of Rockford, IL; grandchildren, Kristin (Bryce) Downing, Gregory (Katia) Adams, Scott (Kim) Adams, Nicholas Adams, Matthew (Jen) Adams, Dana (Jon) Sutula, Samuel, Emily, and Seth Geddes; 7 great grandchildren; sister, Edna Burkey; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gordon and Dorothy Carlson.  Predeceased by husband (1996), and son, Linus E. Adams (Lon) (2005).

Visitation with family Thursday, Jan 18 from 4-7 pm at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Ht. Rd., Arlington Hts, IL.

On Friday, Jan. 19:  visitation at The Orchard, 1330 N. Douglas Ave., Arlington Hts., from 10-11 am; Celebration of Life at 11 am will be followed by a lunch.

Memorial gifts may be given to Alzheimer’s Association-www.alz.org orTabitha Centers – the Evangelical Free Church of America is sponsoring training centers for young women in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.  These centers teach women how to read and write, about God and the Bible, and skills to support themselves such as cooking, sewing, and hairdressing.  Donations may be made to purchase sewing machines in Betty’s honor at EFCA ReachGlobal, 901 E 78th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55420. Enter Project # 2200-5414 in the memo section with Betty’s name and “sewing machines”.   

Funeral information and condolences can be given at www.GlueckertFuneralHome.com or (847) 253-0168.