Today's Featured Biography

 
Betty Betz Willis

After graduation I worked at State Farm for approximately 1 � years. I married Larry in May of 1963. Later that year, I then turned down a promotion and quit State Farm for the birth of our first child born May 1964. Having the priority of being a stay at home mom after the birth of our daughter I also turned down a number of requests to return to State Farm.

My husband and I are Jehovah's Witnesses and we have always considered our Christian activities as our primary focus in life and secular work as the means to support the family. In 1974, Larry having quit working at Kellogg's, we were making plans to move out of the area to assist in the activities of another congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses but then a change of plans because of a third child soon to come and we thought it best to just stay put.

Larry decided to start the cleaning business in 1976 rather than returning to Kellogg's. However, needing a working building to carry on the cleaning business, we decided to move to Battle Creek to put up a barn for the cleaning equipment and our home. The site since it is on a hillside and in the woods was/is a challenge but somehow or other we have made it work. The move was made in 1997. Larry (Cono) and I have always worked together in the cleaning business, he primarily doing most of the labor although I worked beside him on a lot of difficult jobs. I do the office work and became the sole owner in 2004. Now we keep our work to a minimum doing enough to care for our needs and current employees.

I have also worked as a temp at Marshall Field's, Felpausch, and Sears Portrait Studio.

For a number of years I was enrolled at KCC in various classes. In particular I enjoyed the classes in drawing, painting, ceramics, photography (darkroom & digital) for which I received a couple awards. I was able to display a number of projects in various places around town besides KCC, Olivet, Chicago, and one piece traveled to RISD School of Design in Rhode Island for a show there.

Together, Larry & I are still very active in our volunteer work with the Urbandale congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. We enjoy discussions with our neighbors about what the Bible teaches and attending Christian conventions, visiting with family and friends, and Bible study together.

Like most all grandparents we especially enjoy our grandchildren. I enjoy both vegetable and flower gardening, in general working outside, and our pets Wolfie (Australian Shepherd) and Gwendolyn (a dropped off kitty) both rescue animals. I still have interest in and dabble in the arts that I studied at KCC having a working darkroom. Being so busy leaves little time for my artistic interest but wait - I might be a Grandma Moses yet! I have many other interests not listed here.

Bill certainly tried hard to get me to attend the reunion events but I will not be attending. Hope you all have a great time reminiscing!!! I have enjoyed reading everyone's profile on the website.

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