Betty Mae (Maneke) Johansen was born in Rodney, MI on February 21, 1929 to James and Esther (Molda) Maneke. Betty attended Rodney School, graduating from Big Rapids High School with the class of 1947. She was employed with John Buck Ice Cream Restaurant, Fashion Industries, and Wolverine World Wide. Betty retired from Evart Products in 1992.

Betty met and married the love of her life, Carl "Sonny" Johansen. They celebrated 73 years of marriage while raising five sons on a farm near Rodney where Betty enjoyed baking breads, pies, rolls, and cookies, with her sons and neighbohood children. She also did lots of canning from their garden produce and made the best jams from their own berries. Betty and Sonny opened their home to a couple of nephews and a niece for a time, which they greatly enjoyed.

Betty spent her final weeks at The Big Rapids Fields where she received compassionate and loving care. She passed into the loving arms of her Savior on February 5, 2026. Betty Was preceded in death by her parents, James and Esther Maneke; husband: Carl "Sonny" Johansen; sons: Steven, Duane, and Paul; and siblings: Earl, Arthur, James, Kenny, Dale, and Christina Larson.

Betty is survived by her sons: Donald (Diane) Johansen, Larry (Kim) Johansen; daughter-in-law: Julie Johansen; grandchildren: Larry Dean II, Laurie, Landrie, and Mark Johansen, and Alissa (Brian) McClard; six great-grandchildren: Landen, Mekenzie, Kearsten, Triston, Brewer, and Cooper. She will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friend of the family: Betsy Ashbaugh, God-children: Scott Johansen and Stacie Peterson, as well as many nieces, nephews, a brother-in-law, and sisters-in-law.

A private burial will be held in the spring at Martiny Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Betty's name to the Mecosta County Commission on Aging at 12954 80th Ave, Mecosta, MI 49332, or the Comfort Home at 204 N. Patterson Rd, Reed City, MI 49677.

Arrangements are in the care of Daggett Gilbert Funeral Homes, Big Rapids. To leave a memory or share a condolence, please visit, www.daggettfuneral.com 

Betty's recollections: Betty Mae (Maneke) Johansen was born in Rodney, MI on February 21, 1929 to James and Esther (Molda) Maneke. At that time, Rodney was a thriving village with a railroad depot, a train that ran through Rodney to Big Rapids daily transporting potatoes and beans which employed several of the local folk. Rodney also had a lumber company and the Heinz Pickle Factory. Rodney was home to two grocery stores, a hardware store, a barber shop, a pool hall, as well as a gas station, garage, two churches, and a post office. Betty recalls her father farming with the use of horses, and he played in the Rodney band. They would sell milk to the neighbors. There were many families and lots of kids who called Rodney home.