Bettie Mae Wallach Daly City, California Obituary

Bettie Mae Wallach

Bettie Mae (Newberg) Wallach 2/25/1921 - 4/9/2021 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15 Jesus called Bettie home to Heaven on Friday, April 9, 2021, just 43 days after her 100th birthday. She was surrounded and comforted by her family. Bettie is survived by her daughter, April Wallach; son, Gregor (Judi) Wallach; daughter, Wendy (Christian); grandsons, Justin, Brian and Curtis (Suzanne); and great granddaughter, Willa. How do you condense 100 years of a person’s life? Bettie Mae was born at home in Peoria, Illinois, the youngest of five children. Her parents, Nels Olof and Maria Johanna Newberg, were from Vasterbotten province in the north of Sweden and emigrated to America through Ellis Island in 1903. Her family were active members of the Swedish Covenant Church, attending multiple services every Sunday and during the week. At Peoria High School, where her nickname was “Swede Newberg,” Bettie’s favorite activities were art, writing, oratory, singing in the chorus, and drama. After some college, Bettie worked at the Caterpillar Tractor Co., WMRO radio station and at the Aurora Beacon News, where she did advertising page layouts. In the early days of WWII, when two U.S. Navy recruiters asked for help placing an ad, Bettie said she “wrote herself into the Navy!” She joined the Navy WAVES in September, 1943 and served until the end of WWII. Her rank was Sp(T)2c and her job was as a Link Trainer Instructor, training cadet pilots in instrument flight using radio range signals. She was stationed at NAS Whiting Field, Pensacola, Fl, where she met and married her husband, George Wallach, on April 17, 1945. They were transferred to NAS Kingsville, TX near Corpus Christi and discharged together in November, 1945. She later described her Navy service as the best time of her life. Bettie and George raised their children in New Hyde Park, Long Island, NY. She was a faithful member of the Covenant Church in Floral Park, NY, where she founded and directed a childrens’ choir and sang in the adult choir. In 1961 the family moved to Bad Godesberg, Germany where George worked for USIS at the American Embassy in Bonn. Bettie became active in the American Women’s Group, utilizing her writing skills to edit the AWG newsletter. In 1965 George was assigned to the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran; then, in 1967, George was sent to Saigon. Since the Vietnam war was still ongoing, Bettie, Gregor and Wendy went back to the States to stay with Bettie’s sister in Peoria. George soon quit the foreign service, returning to New York where the family joined him at their home in New Hyde Park. Bettie took the Civil Service exam and got a secretarial job in the Great Neck School system, where she worked for nearly 20 years. She enjoyed her job; especially, her lunch hour during which she and her co-workers managed to do a lot of shopping! During those years, Bettie and George traveled throughout the U.S. and around the world. One day in 1997 someone rang their doorbell and asked if they wanted to sell their house. They had been thinking of moving out West to be closer to family, so they flew out to Denver and found a place at the Lighthouse at the Breakers in Aurora. They returned to New York, packed up the house and moved to Colorado. Now in Denver near their son, Gregor and his family, Bettie joined Augustana Lutheran church where she sang in the “Senior Elite” choir. She and George became active in their community, writing many articles for the “Lighthouse Currents” newsletter. When George’s health began to decline, Bettie took care of him at home for many years, but finally had to place him in a care home. Bettie visited him faithfully every day, praying for him at his bedside. After George passed away in 2008, Bettie decided to move to California near her two daughters. In 2010 Bettie and April found a house in Foster City. Bettie loved her new hometown and would tell anyone who would listen about the creation of Foster City by T. Jack Foster and, especially, about the award-winning fire hydrants! She loved her local Boothbay Park, the lagoons, art fairs, July fourth celebrations, summer concerts and food trucks! When the Veterans’ Honor Wall was established in Leo Ryan park in 2013, Bettie was in the first group to have her name placed on the wall. Her name is also on a brick outside the Foster City library! Bettie joined Redeemer Lutheran Church in Redwood City and she and April sang in the choir. They had many adventures while living together, including cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and a train trip through Canada on the Canadian Rocky Mountaineer (Bettie’s favorite). One of her most exciting trips was to Washington, DC on an “Honor Flight” with 30 other veterans, who were honored for their service in WWII. They visited the WWII Memorial as well as the memorials for each branch of service represented in their group. For the past year, Bettie lived at The Haven in San Mateo, a small, loving care home. During her final six months, Pathways Hospice assisted in her care. In spite of multiple health challenges, Bettie always had a big smile on her face. She had a wonderful sense of humor, was interested in every person she met and brought fun and joy to everyone who knew her. To her eldest grandson, Bettie wrote, “My deepest values are: Belief in God and the power and saving grace of Jesus Christ; The importance of a unified family; Love, Honesty and Tolerance.” An in-person Celebration of Life for Bettie will be held on Saturday, May 1, at 11:00 am at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 468 Grand St., Redwood City. To attend remotely, please email april.wallach@gmail.com for the Zoom link. Donations may be made to: The Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation (Washington, DC), www.womensmemorial.org.
February 25, 1921 - April 9, 202102/25/192104/09/2021
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Bettie Mae (Newberg) Wallach 2/25/1921 - 4/9/2021 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15 Jesus called Bettie home to Heaven on Friday, April 9, 2021, just 43 days after her 100th birthday. She was surrounded and comforted by her family. Bettie is survived by her daughter, April Wallach; son, Gregor (Judi) Wallach; daughter, Wendy (Christian); grandsons, Justin, Brian and Curtis (Suzanne); and great granddaughter, Willa. How do you condense 100 years of a person’s life? Bettie Mae was born at home in Peoria, Illinois, the youngest of five children. Her parents, Nels Olof and Maria Johanna Newberg, were from Vasterbotten province in the north of Sweden and emigrated to America through Ellis Island in 1903. Her family were active members of the Swedish Covenant Church, attending multiple services every Sunday and during the week. At Peoria High School, where her nickname was “Swede Newberg,” Bettie’s favorite activities were art, writing, oratory, singing in the chorus, and drama. After some college, Bettie worked at the Caterpillar Tractor Co., WMRO radio station and at the Aurora Beacon News, where she did advertising page layouts. In the early days of WWII, when two U.S. Navy recruiters asked for help placing an ad, Bettie said she “wrote herself into the Navy!” She joined the Navy WAVES in September, 1943 and served until the end of WWII. Her rank was Sp(T)2c and her job was as a Link Trainer Instructor, training cadet pilots in instrument flight using radio range signals. She was stationed at NAS Whiting Field, Pensacola, Fl, where she met and married her husband, George Wallach, on April 17, 1945. They were transferred to NAS Kingsville, TX near Corpus Christi and discharged together in November, 1945. She later described her Navy service as the best time of her life. Bettie and George raised their children in New Hyde Park, Long Island, NY. She was a faithful member of the Covenant Church in Floral Park, NY, where she founded and directed a childrens’ choir and sang in the adult choir. In 1961 the family moved to Bad Godesberg, Germany where George worked for USIS at the American Embassy in Bonn. Bettie became active in the American Women’s Group, utilizing her writing skills to edit the AWG newsletter. In 1965 George was assigned to the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran; then, in 1967, George was sent to Saigon. Since the Vietnam war was still ongoing, Bettie, Gregor and Wendy went back to the States to stay with Bettie’s sister in Peoria. George soon quit the foreign service, returning to New York where the family joined him at their home in New Hyde Park. Bettie took the Civil Service exam and got a secretarial job in the Great Neck School system, where she worked for nearly 20 years. She enjoyed her job; especially, her lunch hour during which she and her co-workers managed to do a lot of shopping! During those years, Bettie and George traveled throughout the U.S. and around the world. One day in 1997 someone rang their doorbell and asked if they wanted to sell their house. They had been thinking of moving out West to be closer to family, so they flew out to Denver and found a place at the Lighthouse at the Breakers in Aurora. They returned to New York, packed up the house and moved to Colorado. Now in Denver near their son, Gregor and his family, Bettie joined Augustana Lutheran church where she sang in the “Senior Elite” choir. She and George became active in their community, writing many articles for the “Lighthouse Currents” newsletter. When George’s health began to decline, Bettie took care of him at home for many years, but finally had to place him in a care home. Bettie visited him faithfully every day, praying for him at his bedside. After George passed away in 2008, Bettie decided to move to California near her two daughters. In 2010 Bettie and April found a house in Foster City. Bettie loved her new hometown and would tell anyone who would listen about the creation of Foster City by T. Jack Foster and, especially, about the award-winning fire hydrants! She loved her local Boothbay Park, the lagoons, art fairs, July fourth celebrations, summer concerts and food trucks! When the Veterans’ Honor Wall was established in Leo Ryan park in 2013, Bettie was in the first group to have her name placed on the wall. Her name is also on a brick outside the Foster City library! Bettie joined Redeemer Lutheran Church in Redwood City and she and April sang in the choir. They had many adventures while living together, including cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and a train trip through Canada on the Canadian Rocky Mountaineer (Bettie’s favorite). One of her most exciting trips was to Washington, DC on an “Honor Flight” with 30 other veterans, who were honored for their service in WWII. They visited the WWII Memorial as well as the memorials for each branch of service represented in their group. For the past year, Bettie lived at The Haven in San Mateo, a small, loving care home. During her final six months, Pathways Hospice assisted in her care. In spite of multiple health challenges, Bettie always had a big smile on her face. She had a wonderful sense of humor, was interested in every person she met and brought fun and joy to everyone who knew her. To her eldest grandson, Bettie wrote, “My deepest values are: Belief in God and the power and saving grace of Jesus Christ; The importance of a unified family; Love, Honesty and Tolerance.” An in-person Celebration of Life for Bettie will be held on Saturday, May 1, at 11:00 am at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 468 Grand St., Redwood City. To attend remotely, please email april.wallach@gmail.com for the Zoom link. Donations may be made to: The Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation (Washington, DC), www.womensmemorial.org.

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Events

May
01
Celebration of Life
Saturday, May 01 2021
11:00 AM
Redeemer Lutheran Church
468 Grand St.
Redwood City, CA 94062
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