Betty J. Lorenz

Betty J. Lorenz, 86 of Middlebury, passed away peacefully in her home on June 12, 2012. Betty was born in Elkhart on October 25, 1925 to Otto and Ida Defrees. Betty is survived by her devoted husband of 63 years, Chuck. Also surviving are a son, Jon (Liz) Lorenz of Greenwood Village, Colorado; granddaughters, Emily (Noah) Barrett of Elmhurst, Illinois and Kate of Chicago, Illinois; great-granddaughter Zoe Barrett and two sisters, Josephine Cooper and Helen Smole, both of Elkhart. Betty was preceded in death by 5 sisters, Myrtle Hostetler, Virginia Plank, Grace Linn, Treva Deller and Opal Defrees and a brother George Defrees.

Betty graduated from Concord High School and then Goshen College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1968 at the age of 42. She then went on to receive a Master of Science degree in Nursing from Ohio State University. She was employed as a staff nurse at Elkhart General Hospital from 1949-1968 and was named Director of Nursing Services at Elkhart General in 1974, a position she held until 1978. She taught in the nursing program at Goshen College from 1974-1978 and became Associate Professor of Nursing when she returned to the college in 1980, retiring in 1984.

Betty was an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and led numerous bible studies and other church activities over the years. She was a member of the Mr. and Mrs. Club of Elkhart. She also served as president of the Elkhart District Nurses Association.

Visitation for Betty will be from 4-8 pm Thursday at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home at Cobblestone Crossing, Elkhart, and a half hour prior to services at 10 am Friday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, at the corner of State Road 15 and County Road 18 in Goshen. Pastor Andrew J. Wollman will officiate. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be given to the Church Building Fund or the charity of one’s choice. Visit www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com to share a message with the family.