Betty Lou Wrege

Betty Lou Wrege of East Lansing, formerly of Caro, age 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 24, 2023, at the Sparrow Hospice House in Lansing, surrounded by her loving family. Betty Lou was born March 13, 1934, in Saginaw, the daughter of the late Rutherford C. & Grace M. (Peterson) Bechtel. She grew up in Caro where she graduated high school with the class of 1952. She later completed business school in Saginaw and took a position with Detroit Edison in Caro and Sandusky as a dispatcher for overhead lines, as well as serving part-time for the Ben Franklin Store in Caro. In 1956, she was united in marriage with Robert C. Suranye, who passed only a few months after their wedding. She later married John O. Wrege on October 3, 1959, in Caro, and celebrated nearly forty years together before his death in 1999. Betty Lou and John resided in Flint for a brief time before making their home in Clio, but Betty Lou always held a special place in her heart for Caro and was very attentive to her mother who continued to reside there until her passing. While raising her children, she was a Cub Scout and Brownie leader, and ensured her family was raised in the church, instilled with Christian values. She was deeply patriotic and enjoyed crocheting lap blankets for veterans and baby blankets for newborn family and friends. Betty Lou had the ability to make lasting connections with people of any age, and maintained a strong network of family and friends.

Left to cherish Betty Lou’s memory are her children and their spouses, Lahna Talbert of Lansing, Erika & Mark Yost of St. Johns; stepchildren, Jay & Sandy Wright of Connecticut, Alexa & Steve Hargrove of Tennessee; grandchildren, Jessica Elliott, James & Daniela Vaughn, Alexa Talbert, Mackenzie Talbert and her significant other, Heriberto Mora, Hope Talbert, Camilla Wilcox, Amy Wright, Kelly Granatek, Steffanie Hargrove, and Kelly Sanchez; great-grandchildren, Caleb Elliott, Mackenzie Jade Elliott, Kayden Vaughn, Anthony Vaughn, and Calian Talbert; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to her parents and husbands, Betty Lou was preceded in death by one son, Frederick Rutherford Wrege in 2019.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 29, 2023, at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Dean Gardner officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Almer Township Cemetery in Caro. Betty Lou’s family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions to the Caro American Legion Post #7, or a veterans charity of the donor’s choice.