Betty Jane Leach

Born: Aug. 16, 1918

Betty Jane Leach was born Aug. 16, 1918 in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Carl and Rena (Ellison) Winebrenner.

She went on to Western Michigan University where she earned her degree in Physical Education. While teaching in Benton Harbor, Mich., she had a student by the name of Delores Leach and she thought her big brother, Robert Leach, would be a good match for her. Her instincts were right and they married on June 8, 1946 in Kalamazoo.

In the late 1950s they moved to Niles, Mich., where Betty taught at the Brandywine School System and Robert worked for Shell Oil. Than in 1961 Robert was offered a job in Rancho Cordova, Calif., with Douglas Aircraft and Betty quit her teaching job and became a full time house wife and mother for her husband and four children.

In 1966 Douglas Aircraft relocated their plant to the Southern California. Not wanting to move the family south, they moved back to Niles where Robert worked for the State of Michigan Road Commission and Betty secured another job at the Brandywine Public School System. The first year she taught English (her minor in college) but the following year the position of PE teacher became available and she got it. She taught PE at the Junior High until her and Robert’s retirement in 1978.

They retired to Grass Valley, Calif., where they kept themselves busy enjoying the quiet and beauty of the country. When not working on their five acres, they enjoyed car trips throughout the USA.

In 2008 they moved in with their daughter Peggy and lived there until Robert’s passing on Jan. 21, 2010, where Betty remained until moving to Spring Hill Manor.

Betty is survived by her sons Patrick (Susan) Leach, Athol Idaho; Timothy (Barbara) Leach, Stonyford, Calif.; and her daughter Peggy (Dale) Eslick, Lake Wildwood, Calif.; her grandchildren Colleen, Shawn, Gary (Casey), Ashley (Josh), Amy, Jeremy, Marie, Robbie and four great grand children Chloe, Austin, and twins Riley and Brayden.

She is preceded by her parents, husband Robert and son Michael.

We wish to give a great big heart felt thank you to the nurses, care givers (especially Dave and the girls on hall two), Kelly and Amanda for their support and thoughtfulness and the rest of the staff at Spring Hill Manor for all the attention and care they gave Betty during her time there. Also to Dr. Gill and Jan for their constant attention to her, we appreciated it very much.

She will be missed and cherished by all.