Betty Lou Konkal

On January 4, 2023, at age ninety-one, Betty Lou Konkal went home to Glory. Betty Lou is

survived by her dear children: Heather Marci Braden, Kevin (Heather) Konkal, Karen Keyes,

Sheila (Tom) Manchen, and Brian (Charles Weber) Konkal; 17 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

Betty Lou is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph John Konkal, and her

parents Arthur and Leona Simard.

Arthur and Leona chose Betty Lou when they adopted her at age three. A few months later, as

Betty Lou played in the sandbox Arthur had built for her, she asked him, “When are you taking

me back?” In his gentle way, Arthur responded with, “Never, Betty Lou. We chose you, and

we adore you. We are keeping you forever.” From that point on, Betty Lou had a wonderful

childhood swimming and playing while living at lovely Rush Lake in Pinckney, MI.

Betty Lou began studying piano at a young age, and she became an accomplished pianist who

brilliantly played such incredible compositions as Beethoven’s Sonatina Pathetique. Once

Betty Lou graduated high school and began working, Betty’s mother, Leona, began charging

Betty Lou rent. A few years later, with the money Betty Lou had paid for rent, Leona bought

Betty Lou a beautiful piano, which is currently a family heirloom.

After high school, Betty Lou attended secretarial school, where she became the top student,

typing 100 words per minute. She then began working as a secretary at Detroit Edison. Betty

Lou was a woman ahead of her years, as later in the 1960s, she became the director of a large

employment agency in Royal Oak, MI, with Mr. Grabner as the CEO. Betty Lou gave all the

lovely ladies in the agency names of movie stars, as a protection of their privacy. Betty Lou

had the exceptional beauty of a movie star, and her name in the agency became Betty Davis.

Around 1951 and while working at Detroit Edison, Betty Lou met Kenneth William (Bill) Deneau,

and they later married. In 1968, Betty Lou gave birth to their daughter, Heather Marceline.

Even though they later divorced, Bill and Betty Lou remained livelong friends. Bill even spoke

at Betty Lou’s surprise 63rd birthday party expressing, “Betty Lou is the finest woman I have

ever known,” and then he magnificently sang, “I Know My Redeemer Liveth.”

In the fall of 1969, Betty Lou met the love of her life, Ralph John Konkal. They married on April

5, 1970. Betty and Ralph bought their cherished family home on Lake St. Clair, in St. Clair

Shores, MI, and they lived there with their children Karen, Sheila, Brian, and Heather Marci.

Betty and Ralph stayed in this home for their entire fifty-year marriage, and it became a

welcoming haven for anyone who entered.

October 10, 1972 came the joyous occasion of Betty and Ralph’s son’s, Kevin Arthur Konkal’s

birth. After the birth, Ralph asked the doctor, “How is my wife?” The doctor told Betty Lou he

had never had a husband ask that question first. The doctor said most husbands ask about

the baby first. Ralph so deeply adored Betty Lou.

In 1974, Betty, Ralph, Heather Marci and Kevin attended a Billy Graham Crusade at Cobo Hall

in Detroit, MI. Together, the entire family went forward at this crusade and received Jesus

Christ as their Lord and Savior. God chose Betty Lou to receive His Son as her Savior.

After this, Betty Lou and Ralph joined Lakeshore Presbyterian Church in St. Clair Shores, MI.

Betty Lou could be found at Bible Study Fellowship, directing church camp, teaching Vacation

Bible School, and leading worship music for VBS. She and Ralph also became elders of the

church.

In 1984, Betty and Ralph began worshipping at New Life Fellowship of Believers, St. Clair

Shores, MI. Betty Lou was a gifted homemaker and welcomed all people into her home with

her wonderful gift of hospitality. From this gift, she began leading The Hospitality Ministry at

New Life where she and others served and cared for many friends. In Betty’s later years, she

and Ralph began a ministry they called Seasoned Hearts. Betty was as creative as they come,

so she and Ralph truly enjoyed their time serving retired friends in this joyous adventure.

Betty Lou had an informal ministry at local restaurants in St. Clair Shores, MI. While dining,

Betty gave away Bibles and inspirational books to anyone she met. She used her time dining

to read, pray, and write cards of encouragement; but she always ended up uplifting those

surrounding her in the restaurant, praying with them, and giving financially to those in need.

In 1994, Betty had a surprise 63rd birthday party at New Life, and two-hundred and fifty people

attended. Kevin, now grown, stood at the front of the gathering and took his mom’s, Betty

Lou’s, hands and spoke. He said, “Mom, you gave me Jesus.” Simple but perfect.

Betty Lou and Ralph had an incredible love affair. They had a lifetime of amazing growth. They

went from being newly married, to meeting Jesus, to busy days raising children while also

serving many people, to their quieter older years. When Betty began loosing her sight in her

eighties, she insisted Ralph read the Bible to her, their devotions and Jesus Calling - every

single day. In their living room, after Ralph read, the two of them would hold hands, and go

back and forth praying, out loud, for everyone they knew. Betty kept a list of prayer needs, and

she would actually call friends and family just to ask them what their prayer needs were for that

day.

All people were always welcome at Ralph and Betty Lou’s home, day or night. No person who

entered would leave without a gift of something — a meal, groceries, Jesus Calling, a Bible,

prayer, a reassuring word, or even financial support. Both Betty and Ralph often sacrificed

their own needs to help others.

After Betty’s best friend, Ralph, went to his home in heaven, Betty Lou grieved but was not

devastated because, she said, she would see him again soon. At this time, Betty had the

pleasure of living with Kevin and his family in TX, where she made wonderful new memories.

Even though Betty’s sight further deteriorated, she spent her days watching messages about

Jesus, having others read to her, directing others as they who wrote loving greeting cards on

her behalf, speaking her text messages of encouragement and Bible verses, and praying out

loud.

The day before Betty Lou went home with the Lord, many friends and family visited. Some

played guitar and together friends and family sang Betty’s favorite worship songs. As weak as

she was, with her eyes closed, Betty lifted her arms and praised the Lord. And she also spoke,

individually, words of blessing and scriptures to every person in the room. Some friends

showed up not only because they loved Betty Lou but because they wanted to hear words of

blessing from Betty Lou, as well.

Mom, Momo, Momma, Grams, Oma, Grandma, Aunt Betty, Betts, Miss Betty, Mrs. Konkal:

You are chosen, and you are adored. Thank you for all you have given and for a life well-lived.

You deserve your reward in heaven. You will be greatly missed.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11:30 a.m., New Life Christian Church, 31700 Couchez Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48082. A luncheon will be served immediately after the service at church.

Arrangements entrusted to Kaul Funeral Home St. Clair Shores Chapel.