Betty Maxine Brinks

Betty Maxine Brinks passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 5, 2024. At the age of 95, Betty lived a long, beautiful life filled with family, friends, love and adventure. There is peace in knowing that she is at rest and reunited with her beloved husband, Bob. Betty was born March 1, 1929, to the late Leonard and Bertha (Paul) Altman. The oldest of five siblings, Betty grew up in and raised her own family in Cadillac, Mi. In her early years it was not uncommon to find Betty riding motorcycles, on the dance floor at the local music halls, or roller skating with her girlfriends from The Bell Telephone company. On May 7, 1949, Betty wed the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Brinks. They had four children and shared their lives together until his passing in July of 2016, after 67 years of marriage. In their later years, attending grandchildren and friends’ weddings, they both got a kick out of being the last couple dancing during the “how long have you been married” dance. The two of them had an extensive group of friends who they enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, boating,and playing cards with. There were famous basement parties and who could forget the annual 4th of July parties, where Betty always said, “if you get invited once, you’re invited forever”. Betty spent decades caring for not just her own children and grandchildren, but those of many friends and neighbors over the years, whom she adored watching grow up into successful adults with families of their own. Once Bob retired, it was time for the two of them to head South for the winters. It was in Ft Ogden, Florida where they spent more than twenty winters in the sun with friends and family who Betty loved to host for visits from the cold Michigan winters, playing Skip-Bo on the porch and watching wildlife her and Bob fed in the backyard. Whether it be Florida or Michigan, Betty’s favorite past times always included going to the casino, taking a nice long drive and going out for ice cream. The surviving family are Betty’s four children: Michael (Dee) Brinks, Vickie Oglesby, Steven (Penney) Brinks,Thomas (Julie) Brinks, brother, Paul Altman, 9 grandchildren,13 great grandchildren, and many step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. Preceding Betty in death: beloved husband, Bob, her parents Leonard and Bertha, siblings, Max, Barbara and Beverly, daughter-in-law, Susan Brinks, grandson-in-law, Matthew Jordan, son-in-law Bill Oglesby, sister-in-law, Pat Altman, and many other relatives and friends through the years. Special thanks to Green Acres of Cadillac, for their care and compassion in Betty’s last months. A celebration of life with luncheon to follow will be Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Cadillac. (1020 E. Division St., Cadillac) An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com.

Betty Maxine Brinks

March 1, 1929 - September 5, 2024