Farewell sweet Betty
Yesterday we laid my sweet mother-in-law to rest. I’ve mentioned a few times in this blog how much I love her and how lucky I am to have won the in-law lottery when I married Larry. In addition to an amazing husband, I got the whole big wonderful family. I feel so blessed to have known Betty that I wanted to share a little of her life with you.
Betty Jean Severson Hawkes
06/01/1927 – 09/07/2022
On Wednesday September 7, after a long full life, our sweet mom, grandma, GG, sister, aunt, and friend rejoined our dad and many other loved ones that had gone before her. What a celebration they must be having.
Mom was the second-born to Harvey and Polly Severson in Murray, Utah on June 1, 1927. She spent her school years there and graduated from Murray High School with the class of 1945. Many friendships and memories were made during that time, and Mom remained close with her classmates and attended reunions and luncheons with them into her 90s.
She met Warren K. Hawkes through mutual friends. It took him three weeks to ask her out, but it didn’t take long after that to convince her that she was the girl for him. They were married March 19, 1947. Mom and Dad spent 54 years together and raised three children: Harvey, LInda (Michael) Lund, and Larry (Christie). The family moved back to Murray in 1961 and lived in the same house until it was sold in 2020.
Mom had a career in banking. She was the cute 4’ 11-½” teller behind the counter at her first job at Murray 1st National Banking. She later became a teller supervisor. Many of the tellers she trained called her “Mom,” and she thought of them as hers. Mom retired in 1983, but maintained lifelong friendships from her banking years.
After retirement, Mom and Dad spent winters in Bullhead City, Arizona, and St. George, Utah until Dad passed away in April 2001. A few years later, she became reacquainted with Moose (Austen) Johnson, who was a special friend to all of us.
Mom cherished her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed the many friendships she made there.
Mom was an elite lady with many talents. She was blessed with a beautiful singing voice, which she shared at graduations, funerals, and other events. She enjoyed bowling, golf, and traveling, and she always found a friend or acquaintance wherever she would go. She was especially proud, though, of her titles of Grandma and GG.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, parents, older brother Wayne, sister Joyce (Jim) Sawaya, sister-in-law Carolyn Severson, and Moose Johnson. She is survived by her children, eight grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, brothers Ray (Donna) Severson, and Richard Severson.
A very special thank you to her Bristol Hospice team. We cannot thank you enough for all you did for Mom and for us. All of you were very special to her. We also appreciate those that helped Mom at Abbington Senior Living Memory Care.
One last note: Mom wanted everyone to know…that really is her natural hair color…nothing added!
We love you Mom. Give Dad a hug for us. Until we meet again.
I’m so sorry for your loss Christie. This is a beautiful memorial to Betty who was obviously very much loved.
Thank you, Jennifer. She was loved indeed.
Oh Christie, what a beautiful woman, relationship with you and most loving & heartfelt post. Celebrating and commemorating a life well lived. May you all derive comfort from this woman’s presence and connection in your lives. Thank you for sharing…much love, Denyse
Thank you, Denyse. My daughter and I were just commenting on how lucky we feel to have been celebrating a life well-lived and such a beautiful legacy.
Chris,
Thank you for sharing our Mom with others, she truly loved you more then words can say, and loved that she gained two more grandchildren. And I was always aware (actually told) that there would be no misunderstanding that you’d always be apart of the family, and there would be no if ands or buts about that!
Thank you for always being supportive and juggling our lives schedules to make sure we we’re always close by to check in on Mom, especially these last couple years, something I needed more then Mom did.
Going to miss my 6:30 evening phone calls to her that I have made for the past 21 years, and driving over late evenings trying to get the tv back on cable channels that mysteriously would disappear.
Although sad, we talked openly of what a great life she has had, and when her time came, it was to be celebrated, and I think we have done that.
It should be noted that as weak as she became these last few weeks, she could still muster up the strength to move her fingers acting like scissors letting me know the love she had for my beard, amongst what most others would say.
❌⭕️❌⭕️
❤️❤️❤️
And I truly loved her. It was a privilege to help care for her these last few months and to support you. I feel blessed to have witnessed your loving relationship with your mother. She will be missed, and yet she is with us in so many ways. What will you do with no mothers to “nag” you about that beard?
Let’s just say, there may have been a “strand” or two with her 🙂
XOXO
What a beautiful life and a beautiful tribute!
Thank you, Donna.
What a beautiful tribute for a beautiful woman! sending you all love as you grieve the loss of such an important person in your lives! ❤️
Thank you, Liz. Your love is truly felt and appreciated.
Another beloved mum that you’ve laid to rest Christie – but what a wonderful legacy she’s left behind. I always think that if you daughter-in-law loves you then you’ve done something right – and she ticked that box big time. So sorry for your loss – but it was a lovely tribute here today. x
So true, Leanne. Relationships between mothers- and daughters-in-law can be complicated, but Betty’s love was simple and full, which made it easy to love her in return.
My condolences on your loss. Your tribute to your MIL [who you call Mom?] described a wonderful woman who made a positive impression on you. May you continue on living your life in way she’d approve of.
Thank you, Ally. Betty was indeed a second mother to me and her influence will no doubt continue. My daughter and I were just saying we hope to some day leave a legacy similar to hers.