Betty Jo Tennant, 81, of Valparaiso formerly of South Haven passed away Sunday, January 29, 2023. She was born May 13, 1941, in Clarksville, Tennessee to Marvin & Maydell (Parker) Rinehart and graduated from Clarksville High School in 1959. Betty Jo was the loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother “Gigi”, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend to so very many. Betty’s number one priority in life was first and foremost her faith in Jesus Christ her Lord and Savior and her attendance in her church, Emmanuel Baptist Church of South Haven for 60 years for which they are founding members. She was a talented cake artist making many beautiful creations. Other interests included crocheting, reading, sewing, and hanging out with friends. Betty was also a member of the South Haven Lions Club, always involved in their charitable work, and always excited to do so. She also volunteered for the VNA Hospice of NWI for 20 years. However, her main interest was always her family and especially her grandchildren whom she helped to raise in their growing up years and up until her death she was always their biggest fan and confidant. She excelled in Facebook always knowing what her family was up to because she could surely give you her opinion if she didn’t like something but we knew it was in love and concern. She was our Rock. She was our Compass. She did not allow turmoil in our family. She made us nip it in the bud and we are all better because of her. She never knew a stranger and frequently had an extra seat at the Thanksgiving table for anyone she knew was alone. We met many new people who became like “family” this way. I could go on forever about the kind of person she was but if you knew her you surely know.
On August 12, 1960, at Shady Grove Freewill Baptist Church in Fredonia, Tennessee she married the love of her life, the handsome Army Private First Class, Ronald Tennant. Their love and devotion to each other is something romance novels are written about. Ronald survives along with their sons: James (Karen) Tennant of LaPorte, Indiana, Jeffrey (Laurie) Tennant of Van Buren, Arkansas & Joel (Roseann) Tennant of Odon, Indiana; grandchildren: James Tennant, Joshua (Taryn) Tennant, Justin Tennant (fiancé-Katie Wozniak), Jeremy Tennant (fiancé-Jennifer Harvey), Anna Tennant (fiancé-Taylor Goodson); great-grandchildren: Ruby Jean, Logan & Kensley; and many loving nieces, nephews & friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Callie Kurtz, and one son, John Tennant in 1969 when he was 3 years old.
A visitation will be held Friday, February 3, 2023, from 4 – 7 pm at Moeller Funeral Home, Valparaiso. The funeral service will begin at 10:30 am on Saturday at the funeral home with burial to follow at Graceland Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the VNA of Northwest Indiana.
GUESTBOOK
So sorry to hear of Betty’s passing. She will be sorely missed at Emmanuel Baptist. -Guy and Marcie Miller
From your first cousins in Alabama. We were together a lot in our younger years and have wonderful memories to cherish. Our prayers are with Ron, Jim, Jeff and Joel! May God grant you peace and comfort. From the Glenn/Edith Parker Maples families; Kathryn, Jimmy, Avery and Tammy.
So sorry to hear about Betty passing! Have a lot of great memories of he! Was glad when she and ,her mom come to Ala for a visit praying for all of you. -Kathryn maples Monk
