Betty Jean (Keller) Danilowicz

After 95 1/2 wonderful, hardworking years, Betty Jean (Keller) Danilowicz is now with her loving husband, Stan, looking for bargains at Heaven's Flea Market. 

Born 8.15.27 in the family farm house on the O'Brien Hill, outside of Benton to Hervey and Ruth Keller, as the youngest of six children.  Growing up with no electricity or indoor plumbing until she was 15 was her start in life.

Betty started working by pulling weeds in the garden as soon as she could walk and worked most every day for the rest of her life in some way.  Whether it was milking the cows, cleaning the fish and game her father brought home, or plowing the fields, she could work as hard as her brothers.  She ran the Pied Piper Inn one summer when she was 14, running the grill and pumping gas, while helping take care of the owner's baby.

She then quit high school after her Junior year to keep the farm running as her three brothers served in WWII.  Betty and Stan dated as he waited to be called to serve and when he was, they married, while he  was on leave, after basic training, getting ready to ship out for the Japanese Invasion.  They were married 57 years.  When he got back they were the original tiny house dwellers in a 20' trailer for 2 years.  They then bought a house in Benton where she lived for 75 years.

Betty learned her sewing sills from Mrs. Dockey at the Benton mill and then rode the bus to Catawissa for a couple years to work at the shirt factory, finally using her skills at Dol-Ang in Benton from the time they opened in what is now the Hoboken Sub Shop, until she retired 30 years ago.

Betty was a member of the Stillwater Christian Church for 70 years and ran the Clothing Ministry that helped thousands of people with basic needs for 25 years after she retired, along with the best group of people you could ask for; she always designed and found materials for Vacation Bible School so the Church didn't have to buy kits. She was always serving ice cream and cake at the socials or at the Benton Carnival; teaching Sunday School for many  years; singing in the choir and even mowing the grass once in a while.  When the Church needed to be painted she led the family there; when new building supplies needed to be unloaded for a new addition, she was there.  Always helping with the Christmas and Easter programs and even doing communion duties and serving and cooking meals.

Betty was a Den Mother in Cub Scouts while her sons were in Scouts, again designing crafts from everyday items like pop sickle sticks, thread bobbins she collected at work, tye dyed T-shirts to making candles and even an alligator made of slab wood with marbles for eyes.

Betty took excellent care of her Mother, after her father died and always took great care of her family always worrying about herself last.

She ran a small business as a landlord with  a couple apartments while always working overtime and volunteering, which enabled her to remain in her home for her entire life.  She skinned foxes for her famous hunting father, growing up working the farm as hard as any man; pumping gas in a picture in the Morning Press about women filling in during the war and even umpiring Little League games when her sons played because no one else would.  She retired a proud member of the ILGWU and supported unions and always voted.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband in 2000, her brothers, Don, Earl, Charles and Bruce and sister, Lois, and by a son, Timothy, in 2022.  Betty is survived by her son, Bill, who took care of her while she was ill the last 3 years and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Special thanks to Scott Lyons for her spiritual needs and loving support all these years. 

Thanks to the beautiful people at Geisinger Hospice for making her feel like a Queen her last couple of months.

Betty was blessed to have the best caregivers anyone could ask for. She got a whole new set of daughters….thanks, Angie Getz, Brenda Kinney, Wendy Laubach, Meranda Monroe, Lorretta Holloway and everyone else who called and stopped.

Thank you to McMichael Funeral Home for their wonderful care.

Betty requested no service, thanking all who attended her parties the last couple years for their time and laughter.

The McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., of Benton, is honored to serve the Danilowicz Family.  For online condolences or for additional information, please visit our website:  www.mcmichaelfuneralhome.com

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