Obituaries

Betty Sue (Michalski) Letarte of Pickford, Michigan, died peacefully on October 25, 2025, in Flint, Michigan, at the age of 77, after a stroke. She was born a twin on July 29, 1948, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Stanley Joseph and Virginia Belle (Rice) Michalski.

Betty grew up on the Michalski Farm on Sand Ridge in Goetzville, Michigan. She attended Leaches School House and Raber Institute of High Learning through the 8th grade. Her education continued at Pickford High School, where she graduated with the Class of 1966. After graduation, she attended Lake Superior College. She met James A. Letarte, an airman in the Air Force stationed at Kincheloe Air Force Base and they married on October 10, 1970. They resided in the Upper Peninsula where they welcomed their daughter, Laurie Ann Letarte, then later moved to Chicago, Illinois. Betty worked in retail for many years; the majority of her working years were in sales at JCPenney’s. She retired from JCPenney’s in 2013, a few years later she moved back to Pickford where she bought her forever home and cared for her mother.

Betty was a devout Catholic, throughout her life she was a member of St. James Church in Chicago, Illinois, St. Peter the Apostle Church in Itasca, Illinois, and finally of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in Goetzville, her childhood Church. She was also an instrumental part in the St. Vincent DePaul and in the altar society through St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. Betty has always kept herself busy. She was a Girl Scout leader and a Den Mother for many years in Chicago. She was always volunteering for something at each of her churches. More recently she was a member of the Quilt Guild, and she had taken the training to work with Hospice, something she always wanted to do. Unfortunately, one of her previous strokes kept her from completely fulfilling that goal.

Betty loved gardening, cooking, baking, quilting, ice fishing, volunteering, shopping, keeping her house in impeccable shape, and helping those in need. Her biggest passion was her Catholic Faith.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Laurie (Mike) Maris of Marysville, Ohio; grandchildren, Andrew (Katie) Maris of West Mansfield, Ohio, Alexander Maris of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Sydney (Jonathan) Downing of Marysville, Ohio; great-grandchildren Oaklynn, Audrey, and Emberly; mother, Virginia Michalski of Goetzville; siblings, twin-Barbara Pierce of Sault Ste. Marie, Thomas (Mary Jean) Michalski of Pickford, Richard Michalski of Raber, Michigan, and Beverly (Tim) Arman of Pickford; sister-in-law, Valerie Michalski of Copemish, Michigan; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Betty was preceded in death by her father, Stanley Michalski and brother, David Michalski.

Visitation will be held on November 9th, 2025, from 3:00 PM till 6:00 PM at Family Life Funeral Homes – Pickford. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on November 10th, 2025, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 12841 E. Traynor Rd., Goetzville, MI 49736, beginning at 1:00 PM.

Burial will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, in Goetzville.

Memorial Contributions can be made in Betty’s honor to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 12841 E. Traynor Rd., Goetzville, MI 49736.