Betty Ann Northrup

Mrs. Betty Ann Northrup passed away Wed. Aug. 24, 2016. She went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and relatives and friends who had passed before her. She was blessed with 94 years on this earth. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. Betty was a kind and gentle woman who always cared about others before herself – a true servant of God. Betty was born on Dec. 20, 1921 in Highland Park, Michigan. She was the third child of five children born to Henry and Hester Langeler. All five children were delivered at home by her father! She grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated from Creston High School. Betty married Arthur Ferguson Northrup on August 8, 1942, and two years later, (on Sept. 19, 1944), they had a son, David Arthur. Soon after David’s birth, Art joined the navy to fight in WWII. Betty’s mother-in-law encouraged her to travel to California to see Art one more time before he was sent to Japan. So, Betty left her three-month old baby boy with Art’s parents, and left for San Diego. However, a short trip to say goodbye, turned into four months! So, Art trained in Coronado near the Hotel Del, Betty got a job with Painless Parker Dental Offices in downtown San Diego, across the street from what is now Horton Plaza, and they were able to stay together off base till Art was deployed. When Art was sent to Japan, Betty returned to Grand Rapids, so happy to see her baby boy and family, but concerned for Art’s safety. Thankfully, Art returned from the war, and Betty got a job with Bell Telephone Company. On May 31, 1952, Betty and Art had a second child, a girl they named Mary Louise. In 1959, Art, Betty, David and Mary Lou moved from Michigan to Florida, and it was there that they attended a church that would change their lives forever. The pastor, Rev. James Kennedy, visited them to talk with them about their future and if they knew they were going to heaven someday. They realized they were trusting in themselves and their own good works to get them into heaven. The pastor shared with them that the only way to have eternal life, was to trust in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. They accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and soon after that momentous day, they moved back to Michigan to be near family. Over the years Betty was a nursery school aide, and a pre-school teacher at a school owned and run by her, her sister, Marge, and their niece, Pat. In later years she did childcare for individual families. She loved caring for children. She also took classes at the local college and became a great seamstress. Betty and Art’s two children eventually moved away from Michigan, David to Houston, and Mary to San Diego. In 1991, Betty and Art moved to San Diego to be near Mary and her husband, Hank, and their two children Amber and Krista. Betty and Art were back in San Diego and they loved it! In 1996, Arthur passed away, and Betty lived for 20 more years at Grace Towers in Hillcrest. On March 31, 2015, Betty was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and leaking heart valves. She went to live at the home of her daughter, Mary, and son-in-law, Hank. In August of 2015, nurses and staff (from the Sharp Home Hospice program) started visiting her there and they gave her loving, compassionate home care for the last year of her life. She also received temporary care at Sharp Hospice Park View Home, and Sharp Hospice Bonita View Home. The Lord blessed Betty’s children, David and Mary, with a gentle, loving, and kind mother, who was always serving others, without expecting anything in return. She baked scrumptious pies, cookies and brownies for church socials and for her neighbors. She was always on the lookout for someone that she could help! She drove people to the store, bank, P.O., doctor’s appointments, hospital, etc. She did what Jesus wants us all to do…serve one another in LOVE! She always prayed, “Lord, help us to be mindful of others.” She felt it was important for us to forgive one another and she yearned for people to accept Jesus as their Savior. Betty’s brother, Chuck, and sisters, Helen and Marge are deceased. She is survived by her brother, Ted, of Belmont, Michigan. She is also survived by her son David (Jean), daughter Mary (Hank), grandsons Mark (Julia), Kevin (Marcia), and Todd (Judy), granddaughters Amber (Jason), and Krista (Mike); great grandchildren McCall, Ashley, Justin, Kaytlynn, Delaney, Alexis, Marcella, Cora, Hannah and Liam (William Arthur); great-great grandchildren Anahlyse, Sean, Valerie, Shaelyn, and Joshua; great-great grandson Carson was already in heaven to greet Betty when she arrived! Betty’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 3967 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92103. Her ashes will be interred at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, with her husband’s ashes (U.S. Navy WWII). In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Grace Lutheran Church at above address or Sharp Hospice Bonita View Home, 3850 Valley Vista Rd., Bonita CA 91902.