BETTY JUNE KETCH

CAPE ELIZABETH – Betty June Ketch passed away Oct. 24, 2008. Born June 10, 1931, to Grace Mae Crumm Leffler and Daniel Martin Leffler, she was raised in Baxter Springs, Kan. After the death of her parents at a very young age, she was raised lovingly by her brother and sister, Daniel M. Leffler and Mary Jennette Leffler. After graduating from high school, she went on to earn a degree in English at Pittsburgh State College, Pittsburgh, Kan. She taught for one year and then worked as a secretary in several locations, the last one was Houston, where she met a GI from Maine who became her husband, Eugene A. Ketch. She moved to Maine following their marriage, and lived in Aroostook County and the Portland area before settling in Cape Elizabeth in 1960. She was an amazing mother to her two children, Susan J. and Gregory M. Ketch. She took great pride and joy in all they did. She was very involved with her church, Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school; was a co-superintendent of Sunday school with her great friend, Janet Hill; was the church secretary; and served on many committees there, her favorite was United Methodist Women’s group. She was an avid walker in town and many, many people came to know her by seeing her walk down Scott Dyer Road to Spurwink Church and back again. She worked as a substitute teacher in Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough while her children were growing up, and then went back to secretarial work for Yerxa’s Lawn and Garden Center and the city of Portland Parks and Public Works and Waterfront Division, where she had many great friends. She was an enthusiastic supporter of music and theatre and enjoyed performances of any kind. When her daughter began teaching music and theatre at Scarborough High School, she never missed a performance there; she loved to see the students perform. She was equally proud of the hard working, kind and generous man her son became. Betty always loved time spent with family and friends. She loved to laugh and often sent the room into gales of laughter with an unexpected line or joke! She met all of life’s challenges with grace and dignity. She was a kind woman with only good things to say about everyone. No kind thought, word or deed went unappreciated, she was so grateful to family and friends for all they did to make her life one filled with love and laughter. Betty was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Mary Jennette; and her husband, Eugene. She is survived by her brother, Daniel M. Leffler; her daughter and son, Susan J. and Gregory M. Ketch. Additionally, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Phyllis Stitham and her son, Victor and wife, Nancy, and their son, Jamie John; brother-in-law, Clyde Ketch and wife, Anne, and their daughter, Karen and husband, Burton, and their son, Gary; brother-in-law, Floyd Ketch and wife, Georgia, and their children, Ginny and husband, Daryl Batoosingh, and daughter, Nancy; cousin-in-law, Nancy Cockcroft and her son, Chad; and cousin-in-law, Marjorie Ingraham. The family would like to thank Dr. John Reynolds and his staff for the exceptional medical care she received, which gave her some wonderful years with her family. Also, tremendous thanks go to her wonderful friends, Jim and Barbara Carroll, for all the daily attention and care that made it possible for her to live at home for the last few years. Visiting hours will be 4-6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland. A funeral service will be held 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Cape Elizabeth.