Betty Lambert, 92, of 2525 Center Street, Marquette, entered eternal life Friday afternoon, September 23, 2005, at Marquette General Hospital, where she had been admitted earlier in the day.

Betty was born May 11, 1913 in McGoffin County, Kentucky, a daughter of William and Rebecca (Bradley) Arnett. Her father died when she was five years old and she came to Michigan with her family who worked in logging camps. After her marriage to Jim Letts in 1931, she worked through the late 1930’s and early 1940’s raising her family and cooking for the logging camp crews. Her second marriage was to William Lambert in 1949 and they celebrated 52 years together before his death in 2003.

Betty served the community for many years through her church, Grace United Methodist Church, and through the organizations to which she belonged.

As an active member of the VFW Auxiliary since the early 1950’s, she volunteered helping veterans, selling poppies annually, and raising money to support the establishment of the Jacobetti Home for Veterans. She later volunteered several years at Jacobetti, mending flags and clothing, and helping with auxiliary BINGO. She was always happy to greet the veterans and listen to their stories.

In County Extension, Betty served many years as an officer and worked at the Harvest Festival every year, judging 4-H projects and canned goods. She also entered her baked goods and won numerous awards, including “Best of Show.” Betty enjoyed her activities at Grace United Methodist Church and especially appreciated the friends she had in the Esther Circle.

As an avid gardener, Betty kept profuse vegetable and flower gardens every year. Family gatherings always included the produce and carefully arranged bouquets from her garden. Betty was well-known as the family oral historian. She always told stories of family events, ranging from Civil War era accounts passed to her from her own grandmother, through two world wars, the Great Depression in logging camps, and more recent events. Anyone who sat at her table heard at least one of the many stories that are so much a part of her family.

Betty is survived by:

Six children: William Mack Lambert of Newberry; William John (Barbara) Letts; James H. (Mary Lou) Letts; Bertie “Susie” Davis; Judie Morrison all of Marquette; Amy (Bryon) Ennis of Spring Arbor; a son-in-law, William “Bula” Hill of Negaunee.

She is also survived by more than thirty grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her special friend, Beatrice Gardner of Marquette.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Oscar Noble; husband, William Lambert; son, Orville Lambert; daughter, Patsy Hill; daughter-in-law, Theresa Lambert; son-in-law, Robert Davis; grandchildren, Rebecca F. Letts and Bradley C. Davis; great-grandchildren, William Socia and Tierney Bugg; and five siblings, Bertie Bowerman, Henry Arnett, Nettie Coughlin, Billie Tanner, and Lonny Noble.

Friends may call at the Grace United Methodist Church on Thursday, September 29, beginning at 11:00 am. Funeral services will be held in the church at 1:00 pm Thursday afternoon with Rev. Charles West, pastor, officiating. Burial will be made in the Park Cemetery with Betty’s grandsons serving as pallbearers. A reception for family and friends will follow in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Grace United Methodist Church or the Jacobetti Home for Veterans.