Betty A. Eckert

MENTONE – Betty A. Eckert, 93, who saw nearly a century of the most amazing times in history, of rural Claypool, (Beaver Dam Lake) passed surrounded by her family at 5:36 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, at her residence.
Betty was born premature at just 4 pounds with a heart murmur, on June 8, 1930, in Plymouth, to the late Alva and Dorothy Montague Sisk. She was a 1949 graduate of Warsaw High School. She was married on Nov. 4, 1950, in Warsaw, to Merl “Bud” H. Eckert, who preceded her in death on Nov. 10, 1995.
She was an operator for United Telephone as well as working for R.R. Donnelley & Sons, Holland Furnace Company, Horn’s Sunny Meade, all of Warsaw. Betty served as one of the first community emergency operators, plugging into the fire firefighters line and providing them with the location of the fire (all before 911 was established in Indiana).
She enjoyed being in bowling leagues, and loved playing cards or any kind of games. In addition, she enjoyed spending time crocheting, reading and making cinnamon rolls. A late bloomer of the iPad, she enjoyed those puzzles and games too. Betty watched tennis and could get anyone interested and involved when watching with her. She was always game for anything even in her later years, going on a canoe excursion being dumped two different times by her kids, still always up for another adventure. She even ventured to go with her mother and mother-in-law on one of the camping trips. The family loved camping each year in Minnesota or Florida; she would say, “I believe that’s where all my kids came from.” Another excursion was to take her father dying of cancer for his last adventure.
She stayed by her husband’s side as he was placed in hospice care during his passing. She experienced the tragic death of her two sons being lost at sea after a fishing excursion in Florida, one survived while the other two were never found; she has also experienced the loss of three grandchildren. However, she always stayed positive and forged on and made us all stronger and continued to enjoy every new adventure every day.
She is survived by her daughter, Tina and husband Chris Cook, of Warsaw; son, Michael and wife Mary Eckert, of Claypool; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; sister, Barbara Ginter, of Hobart; and her dog, Benji.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Alva Sisk and Dorothy Black; husband, Bud; sons: Roy, Jay and Shaun Eckert; an infant daughter, Sharon; three grandsons; sister, Mary Jane Grubbs; two stillborn brothers; and stepfather, Robert Black.
A private funeral service to celebrate this amazing, wonderful caring life will be held Wednesday, Oct. 4 at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone.
The interment will take place in the Harrison Center Cemetery, Etna Green.
Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to the local animal shelter of their choice.