CARL ANTON (TONY) AND ELIZABETH WINIFRED (TESTER) BETZ

Carl Anton (Tony) was born May 22, 1885/June 9, 1885 in Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan to Joseph A. and Barbara (Hinterman) Betz. He married Elizabeth Winifred Tester on February 21, 1910. Elizabeth was born May 23/28, 1892, in Lakefield Townshp,  the daughter of Charles and Margaret (Evoy) Tester. Tony and Elizabeth lived on an 80 acre farm in Section 26 on Nelson Road. Their children went to the Bastedo School on Lakefield Road. Tony served as Lakefield Township Clerk in 1916; Board of Health in 1916 and 1918; Treasurer in 1930 and 1931. Elizabeth (Lizzie) was a member of the Lakefield Ladies Society in 1926 and 1927.

Tony and Elizabeth's children and spouses were:

1. Donald J. Betz was born August 8, 1911 in Lakefield Township and married Leona Marie Rummer on May 4, 1932 in Shepherd, Isabella County, Michigan by W.H. Bell, Minister of the Church of Christ.  He was a farmer, truck driver and an Oldsmobile employee for General Motors.  Donald died March 29, 1998 and is buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery. 

2. Russell Stanley Betz was born January 28, 1913 in Lakefield Township. He graduated from Merrill High School in 1929.  Russell married Margarite Elizabeth Dittenber on May 1, 1937 in St. Louis, Gratiot County, Michigan by Ev. Lutheran Pastor, C.G. Layrer. Russell was engaged in farming and also worked for the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan.   He died May  17, 1985 in Ashley, Gratiot County, Michigan and is buried in the St. Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery, Hemlock, Richland Township, Saginaw County, Michigan.

3. Carl A. Jr. Betz was born March 31, 1914 in Lakefield Township, and married Beatrice M. Mayer. Carl and Beatrice died on 31 August 1945 Midland Township, Midland County, Michigan due to vehicle accident on M-20. At the time of their deaths they were living in Dearborn, Michigan.  They are buried in Lakefield Township Cemetery.  

4. Clare Ernest Betz was born December 9, 1915 in Lakefield Township and married Vivian Irene David. In the early 1940's Clare worked  for the Pontiac Motor Company, Plant 9, Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. Later, Clare became a farmer in Washington Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. In addition to farming, Clare was a school bus driver in the Ashley, Michigan school system and a member of the Ashley, Michigan Lions Club   He died May 17, 1969 at his home in Elsie, Michigan  and is buried in the Lafayette Township Cemetery, Ithaca, Gratiot County, Michigan.

5. Wilma Lois Betz was born July 5, 1917 and died June 18, 1918 of Emphysema Pneumonia at 11 months 13 days old.  Wilma is buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

6. Wilbur Louis Betz was born May 5, 1919 in Lakefield Township. He married Virginia McWilliams on August 30, 1947 in Ithaca, Gratiot County, Michigan  and he died July 5, 1993 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan and is buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

7. Joseph Betz was born November 30, 1920 and died November 30, 1920 of premature birth and is buried in Lakefield Township Cemetery.

8. Lois Elizabeth Betz was born on October 26, 1921 in Lakefield Township and married Douglas Mallory. She died on November 23, 2013 and is buried in Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan.

9. Lucille Marvine Betz was born August 26, 1923 in Lakefield Township and married Joseph T. Searles on November 24, 1943 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan by Minister Carl Martenson.  She died October 3, 1990 and is  buried in Roselawn Memrial Gardens, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.

10. Duane Elmer Betz  was born in Lakefield Township and  married Rosalia Chevez.

11. Robert Charles Betz was born August 18, 1928 in Lakefield Township and married Dolores May Palmer November 14, 1950 in North Star, Gratiot County Michigan and was able to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary together. He enjoyed square dancing, restoring antique cars and tractors.  Robert was a  Navy veteran, loved farming and worked for General Motors. Robert died November 28, 2010 in St. Johns, Clinton County, Michigan and is buried in the Lowe Cemetery, St. John's, Clinton County, Michigan.

12. Gerald "Jerry"  Ray Betz was born on October 9, 1930. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during the Korean Conflict.  He  was married to M. Rita Ruchlewicz. He died on April 7, 1999 and is buried in the Deepdale Memorial Park Gardens, Delta Township, Lansing, Michigan.

13. twin - Edna "Fay" Betz was born November 9, 1932 in Lakefield Township and married L.D. Wale on 22 March 1951 in Alma, Gratiot County, Michigan.  She died on November 2, 2001 in Midland County, Michigan and is buried in Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Midland, Midland County, Michigan.

14. twin - Ethel "May" Betz was born November 9, 1932 in Lakefield Township and received a teaching degree from Michigan State University and was a  life long teacher.   She taught at the Valliere School, a two room school in Midland County, Alma Republic School in Gratiot County and concluding at St. Johns Public School in St. Johns, Michigan.   She married Jerry Pulliam on June 1, 1951 in Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan.   She died on August 8, 2018.

15. Wanda Ann Betz was born February 21, 1935 and married Walter "Dick" Richard Gehrig on December 30. 1961.  Wanda graduated from Breckenridge High School and continued her education by receiving a degree in education.  Wanda taught school in Bath, Valliere School in Midland County, Republic Elementary in Alma, Michigan and East and West Elementary Schools in Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan.  She died on May 5, 1998 at her home in St. Louis, Gratiot County, Michigan

16. Ronald J. Betz married Jessie.

Tony passed away September 11, 1963 and Elizabeth on April 19, 1963. They are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

Sources: Joe Betz; Carl Anton Betz's childrens Birth Records, Carl's sons World War I and World War II Draft Registrations, Lakefield Township 1916 Plat Map, United States Census, Carl's childrens Death Records; Donald J. Betz's marriage license, partial death announcement - Lansing State Journal; Russell Betz's marriage certificate, death record obituary; Carl A. Betz's  death certificate; S.S. Death Records, Obituaries; Clare Betz's  obituary - Lansing State Journal, WWII draft record, ; Wanda Betz Gehrig's obituary - Lansing State Journal; Wilbur Betz's birth, marriage, SS & Michigan death record, WWII draft card; Joseph Betz's death certificate; Wilma Lois Betz's death record; Lucille Betz Searle's marriage certificate, SS death record; Robert' Betz's marriage record,  obituary, SS death record; Gerald Betz's obituary - Lansing State Journal; Edna Fay Betz Wale's marriage record,  SS death record, L.D. Wales obituary;  Diane Shelton - granddaughter to Carl A. Betz; Find A Grave (Carl A., Donald J Betz, Lois Elizabeth Mallory, Wilbur L. Betz, Russell Stanley Betz, Clare Betz, Lucille, Robert Betz, Gerald Betz, Edna Fay Wale)