Obituary: Betty Jean Grant

Betty Jean Grant, a longtime resident of Wasco, passed away on May 25, 2019 at the age of 84.

Betty was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on Jan. 1,1935 to Art and Agnes Stip. As a young girl she grew up in Bellflower and Artesia, Calif. During her teens, she gave her life to the Lord and continued in faith until the end of her life. She attended Excelsior High in Norwalk. After high school she worked as a receptionist in a doctor's office until she married Keith Grant, when she was 20.

Betty was the eldest of eight children: Esther (Lloyd, deceased) Bone, of Bakersfield; Marcy (Clifford) Clark, of Eagle, Idaho; Carol (Lloyd, deceased) Wirtjes of Bakersfield; Arthur (Phyllis) Stip, of La Habra Heights; Delores (Norm, deceased) Nachreiner, of Bellflower; Dennis (Karen), of Bellflower; and Virginia (Valentino) Pascucci, of Cerritos.

She is survived by her loving husband, Keith Nish Grant, whom she married on June 24, 1955. This year they would have celebrated their 64th anniversary. Throughout all those years, Betty never once removed her wedding ring, a testament to their lifelong loving commitment.

Betty will be lovingly remembered by her three sons and their families: Bruce (Vicki, deceased) Grant, Greg (Jeanne ) Grant and Mark (Suzanne) Grant. She will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren, Anya (Michael) DeNio, Shanda (Troyce) Leatherwood, Ryan (Tara) Grant, Cody (Whitney) Grant, Madeleine Grant and Lauren Grant, and her five great grandchildren, Brynleigh, Mackoy, Laiken, Tace and Taelyn. She will be greatly missed and remembered by a host of relatives and friends.

Betty was a wonderful homemaker, rancher's wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed being a hostess and had many friends and family to her home for meals. She enjoyed playing competitive family games and was known far and wide for her homemade apple Danish and apricot cobbler. She was a helpmate for her husband, while he completed his education, and throughout the years of his teaching career and their cattle business. She had a lovely singing voice, and loved singing hymns at many special occasions.

A viewing will be held May 31 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Peters Funeral Home in Shafter. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday June 1, at the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church, 400 Kern St., Shafter, with the burial to follow.