Betty Ruth Johnson

Betty Ruth Stigall Johnson, 82, of Bloomingdale, Michigan, formerly of Blytheville, Arkansas, passed away Monday, August 5, 2024, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was born in Blytheville and had twelve siblings. Her father, Robert Lee Stigall Sr., was a well-respected cotton and peanut farmer and often gave sermons to the small community of Gosnell, in a church that he constructed with other community members, from the ground up. At the age of 12, Betty lost her father, which had a lasting impact on the rest of her life.

Her mother, Avilou Stigall, was a homemaker and equally respected member of the community. The family worked hard together picking cotton and everyone pulled their weight.

On December 17, 1958, Betty married the love of her life, Larry Eugene Johnson, and started a family.

Together they had five sons, which kept Betty very busy! Together Betty and Larry nurtured their sons’ interests as they grew up, often saving money to buy them what they needed to accomplish their goals, such as fishing and hunting equipment, sports equipment, bikes, art supplies, musical instruments and tools.

During the 60's the family moved around a lot until the mid 1970's when they settled in Paw Paw, Michigan. There, Betty took night school classes and proudly acquired her General Education Degree from Paw Paw Adult Education in 1978. Betty also worked a full-time factory job at Knouse Foods/Musselmans in Paw Paw, where she was a proud union steward until 1998.

Betty loved the outdoors, cooking and making recipes, collecting native American works-of-art, and telling stories about growing up in the south. She also loved carrying on holiday traditions and celebrating the birthdays of her family and friends. Spending time with her grandchildren and great-granddaughters brought her the most joy of all.

As a result of losing her father at an early age, Betty dreamed of being a nurse. She gave up that dream to care for her five boys and husband. Later in life, Betty was able to fulfill that dream as a caretaker to many of her siblings, as well as her in-laws and family friends when they were facing serious illnesses, or if they just needed a place to stay. She would often travel to wherever they lived in other states to care for them, or even selflessly take them into her own home for long periods of time.

Betty generously made donations to many charitable organizations, St. Jude's Children's Hospital being closest to her heart.

Betty is survived by her sons, Jerry, Robbie, Trevor, Michael, and David; four grandchildren, Erika Johnson Wolff and her husband Tim, Brett Johnson, Avery Johnson and August Johnson; two great-granddaughters, Karis Wolff and Abby Wolff; her sister, Terry Lawrence of Gassville, Arkansas; sisters-in-law, Dee Bush and husband Bob of Galesburg, Michigan, Sharon Stigall of Camden, Tennessee, Wanda Stigall of Mountain Home, Arkansas; and best friends Etta Woolum and Kathleen Johnson, both of Bloomingdale, Michigan; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews and their children.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents; husband; siblings, Bobby, Billy, Pauline, Roy, Sue, Shirley, Linda, Carolyn, Huey, Cody and Ronnie Joe; her life-long best friend Peggy Whitney; as well as several nieces and nephews. 

Family and friends are invited to a memorial gathering on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.