Bette Marie Puschel died peacefully at her home in Northport, Michigan with family at her bedside. She was lovingly served by Munson Hospice after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Bette grew up in the town of Gladstone MI where her mother, Marjorie Ohman, was a longtime educator and community leader and her father, Oscar Ohman, served as Postmaster. She had an abiding love of the UP and Lake Superior, particularly Eagle Harbor on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Her love of nature stayed with her throughout her life and drew her to Northport in her retirement.

While a student at Western Michigan University in 1951, then-Bette Ohman accepted a car ride from a fellow student, Mendel Puschel, which led to their marriage of thirty-seven years. The early years were not always easy as Mendel joined the Army reserves during the Korean War and Bette became a young homemaker with a new baby, Sandra Lee. Their life took them back to the UP where Mendel finished his engineering degree at Michigan Tech University and the family, now with a second baby, Susan Kay, lived in one of the (drafty) Quonset huts on campus. When Mendel took a job with Consumers Power in Jackson, the family made its home there where the third daughter, Karen Lynn, was born.

Church and a gentle faith were a constant source of strength and fellowship in Bette's life. She was active in the Jackson Immanuel Lutheran Church and Northport Bethany Lutheran, before finding her home in the Trinity Church family in Northport. Wherever Bette lived, she became involved in her community, always finding practical ways to help and serve others.

Music was another constant in Bette's life and she found enormous enjoyment in the Tuesday Musicale Chorus of Jackson and the Northport Village Voices, where she made lifelong friends.

Football, particularly that of U-M, infused her life with joy and sometimes angst. For years she attended games at the Big House, tailgating with family and friends, and supporting the marching band with unbridled enthusiasm.

Travel, particularly discovering the world and cultures outside of America's borders took her to many countries including Russia, the Netherlands, Israel, Germany, Australia and NZ, Costa Rica.

In a word, she was active her entire life and loved her family and friends deeply. Animals were a constant source of joy, particularly her cats which she loved wholeheartedly. When in later years, she was not as mobile as she once was, she

found great satisfaction in things closer to home. She was an avid reader and library supporter.

Bette was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Mendel. She is survived by her three daughters, Sandra King, Susan (Jack) Gahagan, and Karen Puschel (Jack) Segal; grandchildren Megan (Zach) Aney, James (Dianna) King, and Jehan Segal; four great grandchildren Alaina, Bucky, Weston, and Frankie; and her brother David (Chere) Ohman and nieces and nephews Liana (Ron), Kiely, Kyle (Erica) and Robin.

A celebration of Bette's life will be held Monday, April 18, 11 am at the Trinity Church in Northport, MI, whose congregation and pastor provided loving support throughout Bette's illness.

Bette asked that memorial contributions go to the Trinity Church-United Church of Christ (PO Box 156, Northport MI 49670) or to the Northport library, please make out to "Friends of the Leelanau Township Library" (PO Box 235, Northport MI 49670).



Trinity Church will be streaming Bette's service live on Zoom. Please use the information below to view the service.

Topic: Bette Puschel Memorial Service
Time: Apr 18, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Photo Slide Show starting at 10:45 AM

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Meeting ID: 822 4500 0024
Passcode: 342018

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