Betty M. Eklund

Betty was born on May 9, 1918 in Toronto, Canada and was adopted eight months later by Dr. Hugh McLean and his wife, Hazel. The McLean’s and their six children moved to San Diego in 1921. Betty grew up in the Rolando neighborhood, graduated from Grossmont High School in 1936, attended San Diego State College, and worked for San Diego Gas & Electric, where she met her favorite salesman, Paul J. Eklund. They married in 1940 and soon thereafter opened Eklund Appliance store in La Mesa. Additionally they purchased an old mansion from Paul’s mother, Anna, in the Golden Hill neighborhood. They partitioned off a few rooms to rent as separate apartments and, at the same time, started a family – all of which blossomed into a plan for even more apartments and a much larger family.

She was a humble servant of God, caring more for others than herself. Her life was her family, her faith, the apartments, and all of the friendships that developed from those associations. She constantly spread her love and compassion, lived modestly, made clear and thoughtful business decisions, shared laughs, looked for the positive in everything, respected the poor and less fortunate, and followed her spiritual compass. “Leading by example is not the best way, it is the only way,” is a saying that applies perfectly to our Mom.

The joys in her life were her children, Leni Ann Byrne (deceased), Paul, Tom, Karl (& Ethel), Jeanie B Davis (& Ted) and Don (& Beverly), along with her 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband (Paul J) and siblings: Jack, Hugh, Francis, Bill and Joan.

Goodbody Mortuary is performing the cremation. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 7, at 10:30am (Rosary at 10:00am) at Blessed Sacrament Parish Church (4540 El Cerrito Drive, San Diego, CA 92115). A reception will follow in the parish hall.

The family proposes that donations be made to St Vincent de Paul.