Betty Jo Maness Erickson, age 76 of Grand Rapids, Minn., died Sunday, June 27, 2010 at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. Betty Jo was born in 1934 in Grand Rapids, Minn., to Ralph and Leone (Johnson) Maness. She attended school in California, where her father helped build B29s and both parents were air-raid wardens. Betty Jo remembered the huge spot lights searching for enemy air craft. After World War II, she continued her studies in Grand Rapids. Betty Jo attended school to become a Home Healthcare Worker and, she worked in private homes and for the Developmental Achievement Center (D.A.C.) in Grand Rapids. She drove her snowmobile in three March of Dimes fundraisers and won the trophy for the most pledges each year for the women. Betty Jo was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Post 1720 in Grand Rapids: the Fraternal Order of Eagle's Auxiliary, Post 2469 in Grand Rapids; and the Air Force Sergeant's Association Auxiliary. Betty Jo loved to fish, collecting many rods, reels and lures, travel, garage sales, auctions, sew doll clothes, and watch her great-grandson and great-granddaughter play sports. Betty Jo's greatest love was raising her four wonderful children and loving every minute of it. Betty Jo was preceded in death by her son, David Gene Byers in 1977; her husbands, Ralph C. Erickson in 1986; Thomas W. Montague in 1989; Cal Byers in 2010; her father, Ralph Maness in 1990; her mother, Leone J. Maness in 2004; a granddaughter, Rae Lynn Cartwright in 2008; a brother, James Maness in 2009; and many dear friends and family members. In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Betty is survived by her children, Steve (Mark Abrahamson) Byers of Grand Marais, MN; Kay (Mike) Cartwright of Coleraine, MN; Kim (Randy) Montague Erickson of Cohasset, MN; Diane (Jeff) Randall, Hinckley, MN; Debbie (Larry) Barsness, Grand Rapids, MN; Carol (Timmy) Barsness, Grand Rapids, MN; Dave (Sherry) Erickson, Grand Rapids, MN; Elaine Erickson, Grand Rapids, MN;and Iris Erickson, Grand Rapids, MN.
She is also survived by by six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, one sister, Caroline (Roy) Edminister of Grand Rapids, MN; one brother, Richard "Dick" Maness of Colorado Springs, CO; her best friend of many years, Myrna Parson Wass; and numerous nieces and nephews
Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids. Visitation will continue from 10 a. until the funeral service at 11 a. m. on Friday, July 2nd in the Rowe Funeral Home. Pastor Jon Mendonsa will officiate. Burial will be at the Itasca-Calvary Cemetery in Grand Rapids.
Obituary from Grand Rapids Herald-Review, Grand Rapids, MN