Of Chelsea, Michigan, age 76, died Saturday, January 9, 2021 at her home with her family at her side, after a decade-long battle with myelodysplastic syndrome. She was born December 18, 1944 in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, the daughter of Wilbert & Grace Viola (Johnston) Gates. Betty graduated from Wynnewood High School in 1962. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma School of Nursing in 1965. Betty then went on to graduate from the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine in Texas as a flight nurse, and she served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

Betty married Steve Leeman in Oklahoma City in 1967, and they moved to Manchester, MI where they owned a Dairy Queen. She served as an emergency room nurse in Oklahoma, at Chelsea Community Hospital, and at the University of Michigan for over 40 years. Betty earned her BSN from U of M in 1995 and became trauma certified. She participated in the Chelsea Area Players and the Chelsea Lioness Club. Betty was a former member of Chelsea First United Methodist Church and North Lake United Methodist Church. She enjoyed watching sports with her cousin, Dave Scriven. Betty loved to travel and spend time with her grandkids, especially up North on the Platte River and in Oklahoma.

On April 22, 1967, she married Fredric “Steve” Leeman in Oklahoma, and he preceded her in death on Feb. 19, 2014. Betty is survived by two children, Beth Ann (Darin) Anderson of Eldridge, Iowa, and Fredric “Scott” Leeman of Chelsea; four grandchildren: Andrew, Brett, Matthew, and Nathan; her sisters, Patsy Dobbins, Connie Dotson, Vickie Eastwood; a brother-in-law, Richard Rigg; and several nieces and nephews, including Mary (Jon) Oesterle, who helped care for her in her final days. She was preceded in death by a brother, Bobby Gates; her mother and her step-father, Grace & Ralph Nelms; and a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Rigg.

The family received friends at Cole Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, January 12. A private funeral service was held Wednesday, January 13, with Rev. Kathy Schell officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery in Chelsea. Memorial contributions may be made to University of Michigan Hematology Research or the Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation.

________________________________________________________________________________

Click here to watch Betty's photo tribute

Click here to watch the video of Betty's funeral 

Click here to watch the video of Betty's graveside service

 

You may use the form below to share a memory or a public message for Betty's family. Please allow 24 hours for us to review and post your comment.