Betty G. Staples

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Betty G. Staples, 97, passed away on March 9, 2026, at 7:50 p.m. CDT in Northwest Health-Porter, Valparaiso, Ind.

She was born on May 16, 1928, in Waterville, Maine. Her parents were Frances Tweedie Giroux Wheeler and Raymond L. Giroux. She graduated with honors from Waterville High School in 1946 where she was a cheerleader, president of the Art Club, and business manager of the yearbook. She was a student at New England School of Art. She graduated from Chandler Business School of Boston, Mass.

In 1949 she married William Staples who preceded her in death in October 2012. They were married for 63 years. Betty was a service rep for New England Tel & Tel before raising their family.

Surviving are her son, William Staples Jr. (Julie), of East Kingston, N.H., daughters Karen Hackett (Dr. Ernest) Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Jane White (David, deceased) Springdale, Ark.; six grandchildren, Wendy, Heather, Tracey, Michelle, Marcie and Michael; six great-grandchildren.

Betty was the leader of the Junior Garden Club in Waterville as well as leading Girl Scout troops. She served on the YMCA board and was a member of Pleasant St Methodist Church. She and her husband, Bill, owned Heart of Maine Aviation at the Waterville Airport which Betty managed. There she oversaw an active flight school with Veterans, and ROTC students, a charter service for all points of the U.S. and Canada, and avionics shops as well as being station manager for Executive Airlines.

When the family moved to Lowell Mass., she became active at Highland Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School, was the assistant treasurer, and presided over “Susannah Wesley Guild” and the Administrative Council. In 1959 she moved with the family to Americus, Ga. and then back to Massachusetts when Bill was transferred. The family returned to Maine when he became VP at Hathaway Shirt Co. There she served on the YMCA Board, and again became a leader in Scouts.

In 1972 the family moved to Lansdale, Pa. and Betty became leader of Newcomers Needlework Group which met at her home. She won an award in the Bucks County annual prestigious Needlework Show.

In 1975 the family moved to Long Beach, Ind. As Weight Watcher leader in Michigan City and LaPorte, Ind. for 12 years, she lectured and counseled seven classes a week. At First United Methodist Church she was on staff as administrator and as a church member nearly 50 years she chaired several of the committees and was a close friend of the pastors. She chaired Esther Circle over 35 years and church Membership Chair for nearly 30 years. When asked to write the inscriptions in all the new pew bibles, she gladly did so with her beautiful penmanship.

Betty was an English as a Second Language tutor in the Literacy program at the Michigan City Library for 15 years and tutored students from 11 different countries, including teaching History and Civics to three students whom she helped to become U.S. citizens. Betty bowled in the Long Beach and the Wednesday Breakfast Club Leagues. She won the City Bowl Your Way to Europe contest and competed in Washington, D.C.

She dearly loved her family and all of their pets from Heidi the St Bernard, to their Shih Tzus Rosie and Jewel, and Trixie, the cat she said lived with them for 18 years. She loved to entertain in their home, loved her garden, baking, and her tole painting and needlework. She loved to do puzzles and was a Boston Red Sox fan from the age of 10. She kept bird feeders filled year round and was knowledgeable about bird habits. She knitted hundreds of nursery caps for World Vision that saved babies worldwide. She wrote poetry and essays and her many readers loved her devotions.

Her faith in God was her reason for being upbeat and helping her many friends to rely on Jesus. She loved learning and was a faithful member of bible classes. She will be meeting up with her friends and family at Jesus’ home and dancing without her wheelchair.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 121 E. 7th St., Michigan City, IN 46360. She has requested that dress code be casual.

She loved her family, her friends, her church and her church-family. She also believes life is a journey and the destination is peace, love, and joy in God’s heavenly home.

To sign a guest book and leave condolences online, please visit http://www.otthaverstock.com.

Memorials may be made to

First United Methodist Church

121 E 7th St.

Michigan City, IN 46360

or the

Michiana Humane Society

Highway 212

Michigan City, IN 46360