Betty E. Pettersen

Betty E. Buckland Peterson Maycunich Pettersen, age 90, of 2600 South Hill Road in Gladstone, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Monday morning, June 10, 2019 at Bishop Noa Assisted Living in Escanaba, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 1, 1928 in Escanaba, the daughter of Carl Iver and Bertha (Wilson) Buckland. She grew up and went to school in Cornell and later attended the Escanaba Junior and Senior High Schools. In 1946, Betty married Llewellyn “Sam” Peterson at the Calvary Baptist Church in Escanaba. Together they had four children, Leonard (Judy) Petersen, Kristine Sarasin, Vicki (Loren) Kositzky, and Wendy Leonard. Sam passed away in an automobile accident in 1956. Betty then worked at JC Penny, starting as a clerk for 6 years, attended Cloverland Commercial College, and worked in the office for 4 more years. She then met and married Steve “Gus” Maycunich in 1966 and they had 1 son, Marc (Tracey) Maycunich. Betty and Gus were married for 18 years. In 1979, with Gus’ help, Betty purchased and remodeled the building at 819 Ludington Street and opened the Swedish Pantry Restaurant, which she owned and operated for the next 14 years before retiring. Gus passed away of cancer in 1989.

Betty was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Escanaba for 60 years, where she served as Sunday school teacher, sang in the choir, led the women’s ministries program for many years, was a deaconess, and served on the hospitality team at the church. A few years later, Betty met David Pettersen from Vestfossen, Norway. They were married on April 22, 1995 and spent 23 happy years together until he preceded her in death on July 19, 2018. They belonged to Grace Church in Gladstone where they both enjoyed serving in various capacities. Betty and David spent the winters in Florida until 2004 but have settled in Gladstone where Betty’s five children and all but two of her grandchildren live in the area including, Tina (Eric) Lindstrom, Heidi Sarasin, Heather (LeRoy) Rice, Lana (Thomas) Raines, Steve (Missy) Kositzky, Ashley (Avi) Izaki, Jim Leonard, Nick Leonard, Christopher (Avery) Gouin, Antonia Maycunich (fiancé Austin Murray), and Jared Maycunich; great-grandchildren, Barrett Raines, Louie Raines, Fern Raines, Easton Kositzky, and Liam Izaki. She is also survived by two sisters, Laverne McGeary, and Audrey LaChance; and four brothers, Chuck (Donna) Buckland, James Buckland, David (Joan) Buckland, and John (Barb) Buckland; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Betty was preceded in death by one grandson, Richard Sarasin; her sister, Carol Marcum; sons-in-law, James Leonard, and Allen Sarasin; brothers-in-law, John McGeary, and Donald Marcum; and sister-in-law, Rosie Buckland.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday, June 17, 2017 at Grace Church in Gladstone. Funeral services celebrating the life of Betty will follow at 12:00 p.m., Monday, with Pastor Jon Potes officiating. A luncheon will be served at the conclusion of the services in the church fellowship hall. Burial will take place in Lakeview Cemetery. 

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