Betty J. Crochet

Betty Jean Crochet, 95, of Sun City Center, Florida, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2025. Betty was born on May 19, 1929 in Cadillac, Michigan to Robert Wallace and Mida Swartwood. As a teenager, Betty worked on the Swartwood Farms and in their family dairy, which bottled milk and cream in downtown Cadillac. She fondly told stories to her grandkids about using the money she earned at the farm to buy her school clothes. She graduated from St. Louis High School in June of 1947 and was married a week later to Lorne Wesley Beard on June 14th. Betty met Lorne, or as all the girls called him 'Ben Beard', right after he returned home from World War II. They met at the Conery, an ice cream shop in St. Louis where Betty worked and she gave Lorne the cold shoulder the first time they met. They were married for 54 years until his death in 2002. 

Betty was a beautiful singer and never met a stranger. In addition to being a homemaker of four children, she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. She worked for TOTAL Leonard as an account manager. Betty faithfully sent cards to her children, grandchildren, all their spouses and every great grandchild on their birthdays and anniversaries. Everyone knew they could count on their Gigi for a special card, even up until just last week. She loved her kids, grandkids, and great grandchildren very much and was so proud of her whole family. She would be the very first to tell you all of their accomplishments and how much she loved them.

A memorial service will be held at Freedom Plaza in Sun City Center on May 20th at 10am. A private family burial will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.