Betty J. Berger Gowan | September 30, 1933 – February 23, 2021 | OBITUARY

Betty J. Berger Gowan
September 30, 1933 – February 23, 2021

 

   

 

BETTY’S OBITUARY
Betty Jane Berger GowanBetty J. Berger was born, September 30th, 1933 in Heron Lake, Minnesota.  She was the daughter of Louis “Luke” and Gladys (Pierce) Berger.

Betty attended and graduated from Worthington Senior High School where she was a goalie on the school’s Hockey Team. She loved to ride horses when she was not working on the farm alongside her parents.

Betty married the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Gowan on November 8th, 1951 in Worthington, MN.  In the early years of marriage, they traveled a lot with Dick’s construction job. They spent several years in Worthington, MN raising their family, then in 1968 Dick, Betty and children moved to Orlando, FL. Betty worked as an Accounting Clerk at Tupperware’s corporate office until she retired in 1993. Dick and Betty enjoyed traveling to different places with their truck and 5th wheel.  In 2000 they sold their home of 32 years in Orlando and settled into their retirement home in Landmark Baptist Retirement Village in Haines City, FL.  Dick and Betty enjoyed 59 years of marriage.

Betty is survived by her daughters, Debra Ranger (Craig) of Warner Robins, GA and Connie Locker of Archer, FL; sons, Richard (Rick) Leroy Gowan Jr.  of Orlando, and Kenneth Gowan also of Orlando; sisters, Phyllis Baker of Alexandria, MN and Margaret Berger-Agajanian of Southern, CA.

She had 11 grandchildren, Heather LaPlace, Seth Ranger, Gretchen Schwartz (Bill), Jason Locker, Erin Boyd (Jeff), Amanda Fretwell (Phil), Kristy Miller (TD), Richard (Richie) Leroy Gowan lll, Travis Gowan (Ashley), Drew Gowan (Shelby) and Myah Gowan.  She had 13 Great grandchildren, Brittany Trawick, Boston and Berkeley Ranger, Rachel and Ryan Schwartz, Parker and Arleigh Jane Boyd, Lily, Jeremiah and Silas Fretwell, Lexy, Terry and Lilliann Miller and 1 great-great grandchild, Liliana Trawick.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Leroy Gowan Sr.; brother, William (Bill) Berger; sisters, Carol Johnstone and Nancy Wallin; son-in-law, Phil Locker; and Grandson- Lucas (Luke) Gowan.

Betty was known to be a true caregiver, not only to her husband and children but anyone else that needed help.  People said she should have been given an Honorary nursing award. After her husband’s death, Betty was involved in many activities at Landmark Baptist Church and Landmark Baptist Village.  Due to failing health, Betty spent her last few months at Brookdale of Conway Assisted Living.  Betty passed away peacefully in Hospice Care at AdventHealth in Orlando on February 23rd, 2021.

All services will be at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, FL.  Visitation will be Monday, March 1st, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with funeral services Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.  Interment will follow at Forrest Hill Cemetery in Haines City, FL.