INTERLOCHEN: Betty Grace (Fosnight) Gauthier passed away Friday, June 28, 2024, surrounded by family. Betty was born February 16, 1926, to the late Ernest and Lela (Jenks) Fosnight. Betty married Robert (Bob) Gauthier on August 26, 1944, in Leelanau County, MI.
Betty had a zest for life growing up in East Lansing, MI, to moving to and working in Traverse City, MI, to meeting Bob at a dance and later marrying him, beginning a life on a farm. She worked alongside Bob farming and raising a family of eight children.
Betty loved music from being a first chair violinist in her High School Senior Orchestra to dancing and singing throughout her life. She and Bob made quite the duo dancing the polka, two-stepping, and waltzing around the dance floor. When she wasn't dancing at the Joanie and The Polka Tripps band events, she loved stepping up to the mic and singing alongside her son Dale for a song or two while playing the tambourine.
Betty loved baking homemade bread and cookies well into her nineties. Some of Betty's other favorite joys throughout her life were gardening, planting flowers, watching the birds, playing slots at the casino and playing cards. She loved playing Euchre, whereby she played to win, surprising the younger players when she delightfully won the hand and/or euchred them. To the card players and others, she liked the nickname, Betty GG. She was also lovingly called Grandma, Grandma GG, Grams, Graham Cracker (she loved her graham crackers), Lil Granny and Aunt Betty.
After Bob's passing in 2012, a Morkie named Sissie became her daily companion giving her solace and joy.
Betty is survived by three daughters and two sons: Helen Eisner of Hayden, ID; Barbara Gauthier-Warinner (Jim) of Interlochen, MI; Dale (Joan) Gauthier of Cedar, MI; Dennis Gauthier (Deb) of Interlochen, MI; Doris "Sis" (Willie) Hanson of Interlochen, MI; daughter-in-law Kathy Gauthier of Maple City, MI; 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and many other loving family members and friends.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, seven siblings, husband Bob, daughter Bea, her sons David and Douglas, and sons-in-law Warren Anderson and Jim Eisner.
Per Betty's wishes cremation has taken place. Private family services will take place.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cherryland Humane Society (1750 Ahlberg Road, Traverse City, MI 49696) or St. Jude's Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105).
The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.