Mary Elizabeth Peltonen

Mary Elizabeth Peltonen (Betty), 98, walked on to eternal life on June 1, 2023.  Betty was born on August 8, 1924 on  Sugar Island in northern Michigan to Francis and Celenia Catherine (Leask) Carpentier.  She was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians.  Betty moved to Cheboygan, Michigan as a child and later moved to Flint, Michigan to work in the factories during WWII to help support her family.  Betty  met her husband Fritz Peltonen in Flint where they married March 25, 1946.  After starting a family, Betty and Fritz moved to Otter Lake, Mi. in 1952 where they could garden and farm while raising  their  ten children.  There they remained the rest of their lives.

Betty worked several jobs over the years including helping her father run the Coffee Cup restaurant in Otisville.  Eventually she found her passion in ceramics and making porcelain dolls.  After years of perfecting her skills,  she created her own company M.E. Dolls.  She taught classes for years in Caro, MI. eventually moving her classes to her own home.   She would sell her dolls at art fairs except for the ones she made for her own family. She became known locally as the "Doll Lady".  Betty loved to dress up and was always fashionable and trendy with the latest styles and bold accessories.  If there was a celebration, she would be the best dressed person in the middle of the  dance floor surrounded by family and friends.

Betty was a dedicated member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Otisville, Michigan, where she rarely missed Sunday Service.  She was a member of many organizations over the years including the Rebekah's of Fostoria and the Red Hat Society.  She often took in family members in need of a place to stay over the years. She built a strong sense of family values and care giving that has been passed on to her children and grandchildren.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Tuscola County Medical Care Community for the care they provided for our mom.  We would like to thank the staff of Hickory Lane and  acknowledge Linda and Dawn for the care and comfort they gave during the Covid pandemic.  Mother really appreciated it.

Betty is survived by her children Mary Thompson, Debrah Skank, Donna (Terry) Miner, Denise (Michael) Lehnert, Robert (Lisa) Peltonen, Darlene Weaver, Diana (Thomas) Jobson, Fritz (Joseph) Peltonen, Doreen (Bruce) Keane.   Sisters Theresa Kraushaar and Alice Ritchie.   Grandchildren Tamra, Jason, Aaron, Steven, Dennis, Christina, Brendan, Erik, Molly, Brian, Lauren, Gretchen, Cameron, Benjamin, Jennifer, Matthew, Scott, Greggory, Sara and Gabrielle.  Betty also has 31 great -grandchildren, and 5 great -great- grandchildren.  She also leaves behind many extended family members , friends and special long time friend Betty Campbell.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Fritz Peltonen, son David Peltonen, granddaughter Stacy Thompson, and great grandson Brady Dantzer.  Siblings, Paul, William, Thomas, Leo and Charles Carpentier, Celenia Martz, and Julia Thompson.

A celebration of her life will be held at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Otisville, Michigan on June 30, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a luncheon and then interment at Watertown Township Cemetery in Fostoria Michigan.  A visitation will be held from  4 p.m. through 8 p.m. at Mumford-Hudson Funeral Home  in  Otisville, Michigan on Thursday, June 29, 2023.

In lieu of flowers conrtibutions can be made to St. Francis Catholic Church Food Pantry, or to the Millington Community Center.