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Elizabeth “Betty” Lenore (Larson) Horrocks-Holmes, 83, a lifelong resident of Onaway, died on Friday July 23, 2010 at Golden Beach Manor on Huron Beach.
Betty was born to Wallace L. and Edith M. (Anderson) Larson on November 17, 1926 at home in Onaway. Betty’s rich Swedish heritage from both the Anderson and Larson families largely defined who she was. She and her brother Jack were raised in Onaway and also at their parent’s and grandparent’s cottages on Black Lake.
Betty began working at age eleven for Merritt’s Restaurant and later for Fred and Gladys Warner’s Midway Restaurant; later, she worked at the Dime Store and eventually went to work setting print for Fred Stutsman who ran the Onaway News. This was just beginning for what became her unstoppable love for meeting people, feeding people, and working hard. At thirteen, Betty began working as a maid for Lou Maxon. She often reported that this job gave her a “real” education and that it was her favorite job of all time. During the summer of 1944, Betty worked for Square D Electric in Detroit.
Betty was a 1945 graduate of Onaway High School. A year later, she obtained an Air Traffic Controller’s Certificate in Minneapolis, MN, but this was one position she never held. Betty married Milo F. Horrocks on August 14, 1949 at the Onaway United Methodist Church. Prior to completing college, Betty also began teaching at Onaway High School with a partial teaching certificate in 1949. She graduated with a B.S. Degree from Central Michigan University in 1952. In 1957, Betty left teaching to begin working as a Home Economist for the Presque Isle Electric Cooperative, Inc. In 1960, she took the position of Michigan State Extension Home Economist for Presque Isle and Alpena Counties. In 1968, Betty became the second female
4-H Youth Agent in the state of Michigan, eventually overseeing programs in Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties. Betty retired in 1987.
After Milo passed away in 1984, she remarried in 1989 to Donald E. Holmes on June 24th at the Onaway United Methodist Church. Betty and Don enjoyed retirement and spending their winters in Florida, traveling, entertaining, volunteering, and working at the Osceola County Fairgrounds in Kissimmee. Throughout her life, Betty belonged to many professional and social organizations and made countless friends with everyone she knew. She had several stories of meeting people in faraway places and, after sharing and comparing a few notes, would find out she had known them from long ago or was in some otherwise close proximity. Betty loved to laugh and joke, and never acted her age.
Betty was a lifelong member of the Onaway United Methodist Church. As a child, she belonged to the United Methodist Youth Group and in college she belonged to the United Methodist Student Group. During retirement she became a member of the United Methodist Church in Kissimmee, Florida.
Betty is preceded in death by her first husband, Milo F. Horrocks, her brother, John “Jack” E. Larson, her grandson, Sherman E. Throop, and her second husband, Donald E. Holmes. She is survived by her six children, eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and four stepchildren:
Janel Horrocks-Boehmer and Merle Boehmer of Williamston and children, Brit and Ricka.
Myla Horrocks and James Loman of L’Anse and daughter, Marta.
Todd and Sherma Horrocks of Vestaburg and sons, Travis and Crystal Horrocks and their daughter, Clara, and Shay and Denise Throop and their children Lauren and Garrett.
Kipp and Colleen Horrocks of Midland and their daughter, Anders.
Heidi Horrocks and Benjamin Penhale of Walled Lake and their son, Miles.
Van and Kaileen Horrocks of Dowling and their son, Avery.
Donald and Dawn Holmes of Fife Lake
Jim and Karen Holmes of Island Lake, IL.
Diane Holmes of Frankenmuth
Jerry and Carrie Holmes of Traverse City
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