Betty Bauers

Betty Maxine (Russell) Bauers was born on February 6, 1932 in a small farmhouse in Fairgrove, Michigan to Robert and Myrtle (Raymond) Russell.

She passed away on December 25, 2017 in Payette, Idaho.

Betty attended school in Vassar MI until she was 15 years old when they moved north to Mackinaw City, MI. In the summer Betty worked as a waitress and pumped gas at her family’s’ gas station. She met her husband Wayne Bauers in high school and they courted on a bicycle built for two enjoying rides at Trails End Bay beach along the Lake Michigan shoreline. She graduated from high school in 1950 and married Wayne on Dec 4, 1950, just before he deployed to the Korean War.

While Wayne was deployed, Betty lived with her parents and worked for her father-in-law on the “SS Chief Wawatam”, a coal-fired train ferry and icebreaker on the Straits of Mackinac. Betty was a waitress and kitchen aid for the crew.

When Wayne returned home, they bought their first house in Bay City, MI and had daughters Mary Ann and Linda. Their son Wayne Jr. (Buzz) was born in Sault Ste. Marie, MI in May 1957 and shortly after his birth the family moved to Gaylord, MI. When her children entered school, Betty went to work in the school kitchen and was eventually promoted to the position of head cook. Years later she was nicknamed “Betty Crocker” by her son-in-law Steve. Wayne and Betty enjoyed snowmobiling in the winter and you could find Betty floating in her backyard swimming pool in the summer. She also loved going to high school sporting events, and was well known in the local bowling leagues once bowling a score of 274.

In 1983, Wayne and Betty moved to Oregon to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They owned and operated the Shaw Motel for eight years. When they sold the motel, they moved into a small brick house in Ontario. Betty loved flowers so she planted a few Marigolds that took off! The whole block had Marigolds and she was dubbed the Marigold Queen. Betty also continued her love for bowling joining the Ladies League at Sunset Lanes in Ontario. Cooking was Betty’s passion, and she loved to prepare meals for her family. Anytime someone would visit from out of town, regardless of the day or time, she would have fresh homemade cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven and the coffee on.

Betty will be remembered for her quiet gentle soul, kind spirit, and love she shared.

Betty is survived by her daughter Linda (Steve) Shaw of Ontario, OR and Son Buzz (Cathy) Bauers of Traverse City, MI; seven grandchildren Kara (Eric) Trammell, SFC Nikki Shaw, SSG Katie Shaw, Alissa (Nathan) Krieg, Nathan (Jana) Bauers, Caleb (Lindsey) Bauers, and Rachel (Darren) Shafer; three great-grandchildren Conner and Hunter Trammell and Zachary Krieg; her brother Ray (Kay) Russell of Vassar, MI, along with many nieces, nephews.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, one brother, infant daughter Mary Ann and husband of 65 years Wayne Bauers.

The family would like to thank Heart and Home Hospice and Genesis Care Center in Payette, Idaho for their kindness during Betty’s final days.

Cremation and memorial preparations were prepared by Haren-Wood Funeral Home of Ontario. Her final resting place will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Mackinaw City, Michigan next to her husband and daughter.

A memorial will be held January 13, 2018, at the Blvd Grange #389, Ontario at 11 o’clock in the morning. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Heart and Home Opal Foundation, 1107 NW 11th Street, Fruitland, ID 83619.

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