Bette Lu Patton

Bette Lu Patton

Died April 16, 2016

BINGHAM TWP. – Bette Lu Patton, 89, of Bingham Twp., died peacefully Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Villa at Traverse Point. 

Bette was born on Oct. 31, 1926 in Highland Park, the daughter of William and Edith (Gardner) Hallas.  On Feb. 1, 1952 at the Mayflower Congregational Church in Detroit, she married Richard E. Patton who survives.

Bette grew up in Detroit when it was still a beautiful and vibrant city.  She was a stewardess with America Airlines, worked at the Murray Corp., and was a homemaker.  She loved to talk about the past and the history of places.  Bette was patriotic and enjoyed discussing politics and was the third generation to know and love Leelanau County and Lake Leelanau.  She enjoyed watching the wildlife and fishermen on the lake.  She was a voracious reader and collected antiques.  Bette was a very curious person who liked to find out all about the people she met.  She had a keen memory and was the most organized person one could know.  Bette had a strong will and was a force to be reckoned with.  A true steel magnolia.  She will be missed.

In addition to her loving husband of 64 years, Bette is survived by her two sons, James Gardner Patton and David William Patton; two grandchildren, Matthew James (Heather) Patton and Amanda Marie (Jerramy) Tollas; three great-grandchildren, Alyssa Patton, Adalyn Tollas, and Annabelle Elizabeth Tollas; nieces and nephews, Janet Hallas, Dr. Peter Hallas, Laura Symons, and Diane Evans.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. Donald Gardner Hallas.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 23 at 1 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay with a visitation held one hour prior to the service.  Burial will follow at Bingham Twp. Cemetery. The Reverend Doctor Robin Carden will officiate.

Memorials may be directed to the Leelanau Conservancy, P.O. Box 1007, Leland, MI 49654.

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