CORINNA – Betty Blackden, 65, passed away March 16, 2012, after a long and lingering illness. She is now at peace with her Lord. She was born Dec. 18, 1946, in Rensselaer, Ind., a daughter of Thomas and Bertha (Pettet) Swart.
She graduated from high school and married a boy from Maine, her husband, Owen, Aug. 1, 1963. They moved to Maine in 2001, and she adopted the state as her home. Betty and Owen never regretted taking early retirement so that they might spend the time they had together fishing and enjoying life. She loved flowers and excelled at landscape painting. She had a great love for people, especially children. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Newport.
Betty was the mother of three children, Brian Blackden, Nancy Blackden Staples and Susan Blackden Staples. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Randy, Melinda, Chad, Shawn, Matthew, Nichole and Natalie; many great-grandchildren; and three nieces, Lorraine, Brenda and Tammy. She was predeceased by her brothers, Roger and Ernest.
Memorial services will be held noon Saturday, March 24, at Calvary Baptist Church, 39 Grove St., Newport, with the Rev. George Perkins officiating. Friends may call 11 a.m. until the time of services at the church. A second memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, March 30, at Christian Reformed Church of Crown Point, 909 East Greenwood Ave., Crown Point, Ind., where friends may call 10 a.m. until the time of services. A luncheon will be afteward at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Betty’s memory may be made to American Cancer Society, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal, Newport. Those who wish may leave written condolences at
www.CrosbyNeal.com.