Betty “Joan” Shei, 84, of Hanna, IN, died at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at IU Health LaPorte Hospital.
She was born June 17, 1929, in LaPorte to Edward and Mary (Gibson) Peters and lived her entire life in this area.
Betty was a homemaker and a farmer. She was a graduate of Hanna School. She was a loving wife, great seamstress and cook. Betty worked the fields side by side with her husband of almost 63 years. She was very strong spirited and would let you know it.
On March 11, 1951, in Hanna, she married Donald Shei, who survives.
She also leaves behind one daughter, Rebecca (Russ) Kirsch of LaPorte; one son, Roger (Lynne) Shei of Hanna; five grandchildren, Eddie and Erin Shei, Jaime Raymond, Loree Pinkowski and Kyle Kirsch; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dolores Welsh of Union Mills, IN, and Mary Lou Nielsen of Stillwell, IN; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Phyllis Guse and Eunice Werner; and one brother, Phil Peters.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, with Pastor Craig Forwalter officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service. Burial will be in Hanna Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services, 922 E. Colfax, South Bend, IN 46617; or LaPorte VNA Hospice, 1007 Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.