Patricia Kirkland Betwee

BETWEE, PATRICIA ANN KIRKLAND 80, passed away unexpectedly October 31, 2024, at Bronson Methodist Hospital with her family at her side. Pat was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. 

Pat was born December 6, 1943, in Detroit, Mich. to James and Mary Kirkland, the eldest of three children. Her parents emigrated from Scotland, and Pat was proud of her Scottish ancestry. She grew up in East Detroit, surrounded by a large extended family. Patsy, as Pat is known to her sister and cousins, often shared fond memories of the many parties and family get-togethers that took place. 

Pat developed a love for journalism in junior high and high school on the school newspaper and yearbook staff. After graduating from East Detroit High School in 1961, she attended South Macomb Community College where she worked on the yearbook and the school newspaper (the last year as Editor). After graduation in 1964, Pat transferred to Wayne State University where she again joined the college newspaper. In her two years at Wayne, Pat served as a reporter, Assistant Managing Editor and Summer Editor of the Daily Collegian. She also met her future husband, Dale Betwee, working on the paper. They married in December of 1965 and when he graduated in June of 1966, they moved to Kalamazoo when he was hired by Booth newspapers (a Michigan chain of seven local newspapers). Dale spent 40 years at the Kalamazoo Gazette.

After moving to Kalamazoo, Pat kept busy as a freelance journalist and joined with Dale in raising their family (a son and two daughters). (Three granddaughters and six great-grandchildren later joined the family.) She also took a few classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College before enrolling at Western Michigan University. She finally received her Bachelors degree in Graphic Arts Printing and Journalism in 1980, not an easy feat while taking care of three young children but an accomplishment that was very important to her. 

Pat worked for a decade at the Kalamazoo Gazette, putting out the television schedule and Friday entertainment section.

After living in various apartments and houses in their early years in Kalamazoo, Pat and Dale found their dream home on Alamo Avenue in Kalamazoo in 1977 and they would never move again. They were known for their many home improvement projects, oftentimes juggling several at once. 

Pat enjoyed many hobbies, and often took classes to learn a new craft. She especially enjoyed photography, which her family can attest to as they were often the subject of the many photos Pat took. She was the family’s unofficial biographer and was known for her impressive memory and ability to recount stories from the past. 

Pat and Dale loved to take road trips, and traveled all over the USA. They visited friends and family along the way, and even owned a camper trailer for many years, to take on their journeys.

Pat played softball in various leagues, and for a while was the star pitcher of the Gazette’s women's team. She was an avid Detroit Tigers fan, and enjoyed going to games in Detroit and also at spring training in Florida.

After retirement, Pat volunteered with the Friends of the Kalamazoo Public Library. She was an active member, serving on the board but especially enjoyed her weekly shifts at the Friends bookstore. She was a voracious reader, especially mysteries, and amassed quite a collection of novels.

As one friend put it, Pat was a “calm force”. Behind her quiet and unassuming demeanor, she was always helping out friends and family, giving of her time and resources. 

Pat is survived by her children: son Jamie (Ingrid); daughters Heather (Lance), and Emily (Dave); sister Marilyn Lindow; and brother, James (Karen) Kirkland. Also, three granddaughters: Kayley (Cory) Wilson, Kristina (Justin) Fisk, and Alex Buck (Stefen). Also six great-grandchildren (Tristan, Connor, Greyson, Elijah, Amiah, Avah). Also survived by nieces, Debbie Hernandez, Jodi Smith and Terri Hurlburt, and nephews Michael and Chris Lindow, and Jimmy Kirkland. Also two sisters-in-law, Lucy Drews and Debbi Betwee; two nieces, Melanie Loehr, Dani Schuster, and one nephew, Seth Bridges. Also survived by loving cousins in the Kirkland, Pauley, and Kemp families. Pat was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dale, and brothers-in-law Christopher Betwee and Donald Drews. Cremation has taken place.

A memorial visitation is planned for January 8, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 with a service at 2:00 at the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral home; 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage, MI 49002. While visiting Pat’s memory page at www.amsfuneralhomes.com, please sign the guestbook or leave a memory for the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of the Kalamazoo Public Library or Habitat for Humanity.