Betty Jeanne (Brown) Vogelsang

Betty Jeanne Vogelsang

April 13, 1927 - April 3, 2018

Betty Jeanne Vogelsang was born on April 13, 1927 and passed away on April 3, 2018 (at 8:45am) at her home in Huntsville, Alabama.  She was 90 years old, only ten days from her 91st birthday.

Betty was born in LaPorte, Indiana as Sarah Frances Brown, daughter of Benjamin F. Brown and Phyllis (Crane) Brown. Later, she was adopted by James and Bessie Hess, and her name was changed to Betty Jeanne Hess.

She married her husband, Francis Hubert Vogelsang, on September 26, 1947 at the First Christian Church in LaPorte. On January 1, 1962, she gave birth to her only child, Mary Frances, and received local recognition because Mary was the first child born in LaPorte that year.

After the death of her husband, Francis Hubert Vogelsang (also of LaPorte, Indiana) in 2012, she lived with her daughter, Mary Frances Rygaard, in Huntsville, Alabama.

Betty loved to play the cello and studied music at Indiana University. After returning to LaPorte, she married Hubert and began working at Montgomery Ward in the credit department.  Later, she worked at Allis-Chalmers until the birth of their daughter.

Betty was active in her daughter's education and acted as Chairperson of the Handley School Library Mother Volunteers, and functioned as room mother, greeter, and scheduler for regional PTA meetings. She was also secretary for the Friends of the Library, and a member of the LaPorte Historical Society.

Due to her love of music, she became a charter member of the LaPorte Symphony Orchestra, where she played the cello as well as serving on the Board of Directors, and as secretary.  She was also secretary of the LaPorte Amateur Music Club and President of the Music Booster Club.  She also loved gardening, reading, and knitting. One of the afghans she knitted won first place at the LaPorte County Fair.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Mary Frances Rygaard.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 2:00pm at the Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, at 1117 Indiana Avenue, LaPorte, Indiana.  Visitation will be from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.

The memory of her love and kindness shall forever be carried in our hearts.

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