Betty Collins

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WI - Betty Amy Collins, 90, went home to be with her heavenly Father on Sunday, November 28, 2021. Born September 27, 1931 in Stratford, New Zealand, she was the daughter of the late Douglas Melville and Grace Phipps Melville. Betty married Jack H.R. Collins on December 9th, 1950. The family emigrated from New Zealand to America in 1965 with their five children. Betty loved her family, and especially her grandchildren. She was always excited to see her grandkids and always made them feel loved. She was feisty, funny, cheeky, and full of joy! She had the gift of hospitality; just about every Sunday after church, different families were invited to her home for a New Zealand leg of lamb and her famous trifle. Betty was an excellent seamstress; she made all her children’s clothing when they were growing up. She enjoyed decorating cakes for her church. She also enjoyed growing vegetables and different plants, especially plants native to New Zealand. Betty was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Jack Collins; son, Sean (John) Collins; great-grandchild, Emery Jackson-Roy McDougald; brothers, Maurice Melville, Harry Melville and John Melville; and sisters, Olive Blampied and Violet Hobdell. Survivors include four children, Rosalie Collins of South Bend, IN, Pauline Collins of Gillette, WY, Marcus (Anna Lise) Collins of Wauwatosa, WI and Jacquie (Alfred) Templeton of Terre Haute, IN; 13 grandchildren, David (Kim) Midkiff, Tony (Melissa) Midkiff, Lance Midkiff, Julie (Eric) Baker, Grant Midkiff, Shawn (Jeana) McIlroy, Angel McDougald, Michael (Amber) Collins, Boysen (Vicki) Collins, Heidi Collins, Amy (Jeff) Carlson, Phillip Templeton and Tim (Jillian) Templeton; 30 great-grandchildren, Kelcey Midkiff, Kayla Midkiff, Brittni Cain. Gavin Hazelleif, Levi Midkiff, Angel Midkiff, Aiden Midkiff, Tesla Midkiff, Alyssa Baker, Ariana Baker, Gracey Midkiff, Bailey Midkiff, Dale McIlroy, Brandi Chandler, Jason Sprague, Paige Massey, Lane McDougald, Cole McDougald, Samuel McDougald, Samuel Collins, Emma Collins, Elskede Collins, Chloe Carlson, Elijah Carlson, Abigail Carlson, Gabriel Carlson, Judah Carlson, Naomi Carlson, Isaac Carlson and Shiloh Carlson; 10 great great-grandchildren, Clayton Rucker, Logan Rucker, Dallas Hardee, Stella Midkiff, Saed Couch, Briella Cain, Paisley Hazellief, Greenly Hazellief, Princeton Hazellief and Moriah Jeane Sprague; sisters, Ethel Pope, Ruth Keoghan, Hazel Booth and Noeline Rose; and brother Bruce Melville. A celebration of Betty’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with Reverend Alfred Templeton officiating. Interment will follow at the family cemetery on Pinoak Road in Lashmeet. The family will receive friends Saturday, December 11, 2021 from noon until service hour at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bailey-kirk.com.

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Betty Collins

September 27, 1931 - November 28, 2021