Betty Groen

Saturday, August 27 at home. The Memorial Service will be held at 10:00

a.m. on Saturday, September 10 at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church (588

Camino Manzanas, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360).

Betty, one of nine siblings, was born to John & Minnie De Vries in Lucas,

Michigan. She was raised on the family farm and attended a Christian

country school through her 8th grade and then attended Northern

Christian High School in McBain. She was married to her Calvin College

sweetheart, George Junior Groen in 1958, and they were blessed with 3

children: Roann (Donald) Andriese of Portugal, Mark (Joy) living in

Sacramento, CA and Eric (Yvonne) of Westlake, CA. They have eight

grandchildren.

George and Betty raised their family in Grand Rapids, MI and Chino, CA.

They also lived in Palos Heights, Il and Phoenix, AZ. Betty was involved in

education her whole life. She and her husband helped start the Phoenix

Christian Elementary school; she a taught in the Headstart program of the

Chino public school; taught at Anna Borba Fundamental School and then

also taught Bible at Phoenix Christian High School.

Betty was a leader in her church as well and was active in many areas,

including teaching Prayer Ministries. Betty enjoyed entertaining friends and

neighbors. She and George often had different folks living with them, for

months at a time. Her life’s theme was: “Keep It Simple”!

Betty was very serious about her faith and shared with many people

regarding that faith. Her favorite Bible passage was Psalm 139 and her

favorite song was “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. She was a joy to be

around and she was deeply loved by her children, family and friends.

She is survived by her husband, George, and her three children. All of her

eight siblings: Harvey, Jay, Wilhelmina (Willie), Ann, Helen, Marge, Jessie

and Minette (Micki) preceded her in death.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.piercebrothersvalleyoaks.com for the Groen family.

~

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways. Of happy times and laughing times and bright sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done.