Betty Joan Henderson

Passed away peacefully, in her sleep, on May 12, 2021, at Burcham Hills Retirement Center in East Lansing, Michigan.  She was 89 years old, born on November 28, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan, to Marian (Sellers) and Harry H. Hardman of Detroit.

Betty lived most of her life in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, but had a second home in St. Petersburg, Florida.  She moved to Lansing in 2003.

A lover of animals – of all kinds – Betty volunteered her time generously for the Michigan Humane Society.  Over the years she adopted numerous dogs and cats.  She also made homes for rabbits, snakes, turtles, fish, and birds.  Many families of ducklings enjoyed their lives after Betty helped them cross busy roads, stopping traffic and facing angry drivers.   She even saved a baby pig in Harpers Ferry, WV!

Betty was active with the Junior Group of Goodwill and Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church, where she was an ordained deacon and chair of the Altar Guild.

She graduated high school from Miss Newman’s School in Detroit before attending Western College for Women, in Oxford, Ohio (now Miami University).  Later, she was employed by the Engineering Society of Greater Detroit where she managed membership.

Betty was a member of the Bloomfield Open Hunt Club, the Village Women’s Club, the Isla Del Sol Yacht and Country Club, the Cranbrook Tennis Club and Colony Tour Club.

Survivors include two sons, William W. Henderson, III (Candy), and Gary T. Henderson (Beverlee).  She is grandmother of Ashley (David) Laylock, Trace and Marian Henderson and Craig (Kristin) and Marc (Barbara) Coughlin.  Also, great-grandmother to Cole, Grant, Beau, Logan and Lauren Coughlin.  She is also survived by nephew Jeff Harper (Kimberly) and niece Julie Fizer as well and Katie and Grant Harper and Anthony and Jennifer Fizer.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband William W. Henderson, Jr. who passed in 2019 and her brother, Harry H. Hardman, Jr. who passed in February, 1999.

A private funeral service will be held on May 22 at Estes-Leadley Funeral Home, Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933.  Betty will be laid to rest next to her husband, William, at Delta Center Cemetery, Delta Township, Michigan.

The family has requested memorial tributes, in lieu of flowers, be directed to:  GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit, 19799 West 12 Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan  48076; Checks payable to: GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit; Or on-line at: www.gigisplayhouse.org/detroit.  GiGi’s Playhouse is a Down Syndrome Achievement and Advocacy Center.