Betty Allen

First and foremost, Betty Allen was a woman of great faith, who inspired others through the word of God, which she herself so deeply believed in. Beyond this distinction, Betty was a woman who, through her warmth and generosity, exemplified all the wonderful things that a wife, mother and grandmother should be. She was patient, caring and generous with her time, and she never thought twice about going out of her way to help someone in need. Betty was truly a ray of sunshine for those close enough to receive the gift of her warmth.

Although the Great Depression hit many families hard during the 1930s, Roy and Selma (McGee) Wells of Marthaville, Louisiana was blessed with many gifts; among them was their daughter, Betty Zane, who was born on August 23, 1933. Betty lived with her grandmother, Martha Jane (known as “Momma”), until she was 7, and then moved back home with her father Roy and his second wife, Lucille, when her brother Terry was born. A bright and energetic little girl, Betty loved to spend summer vacations and all day revival meetings with her two grandmothers. In high school, she stayed active, playing volleyball and singing on the school choir, in addition to her studies. After graduating, Betty pursued training as a physical therapist and nurse’s aid.

Betty’s life took a new direction when her cousin Fran set her up on a blind date with a young serviceman named Robert W. Allen from Barksdale Air Force Base. At the time, she was working at Silvers (a five and dime store) in Shreveport, and Bob and two of his comrades (one of whom was being shipped out) came to the store. Betty told Fran that if the guy being shipped out was her date, then she wasn’t going. So Fran called Bob and cancelled the date, however, he decided to show up anyway, and to Betty’s surprise, he was as handsome as ever in his uniform, and such a gentleman. From their first encounter on the last night of May, their love blossomed quickly and they were happily married four months later in a small ceremony at her father’s home in Pleasant Hill on September 19, 1951, a day Betty treasured as one of the greatest in her life.

Since Bob had just been honorably discharged from the Air Force, the newlyweds spent their honeymoon moving from Louisiana to Holland, Michigan. Over the next few years, the couple welcomed the births of their five beautiful children: Michael, Patrick, Vicky, Ronald and Jeffrey. Betty considered her children to be her greatest gift and blessing. It was easy to see that Betty considered it pure joy to care for her husband and children. She was active in the lives of her children and she also created a home that was a place where love was plentiful. Betty loved cooking for her family and was most famous for her southern style dishes, which included southern fried chicken, potato salad and potato yeast rolls with chocolate and pecan pies, banana bread and banana cake for dessert. Every Sunday morning like clockwork the pressure cooker was working away in the kitchen with the afternoon pot roast, filling the house with the most delicious aroma.

Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Betty worked as a physical therapist at Haven Park Christian Nursing Home in Zeeland. Before long, she and Bob built, owned and operated the Port Sheldon Pine Ridge Home, a geriatric adult foster care in West Olive. If that wasn’t enough, Betty also worked in the Medial Personnel Pool in Holland.

Church was very important to Betty and Bob, and they dedicated a lot of time to activities and groups within their congregation at Immanuel Baptist Church. Aside from faithfully attending Sunday and Wednesday services, they both taught Sunday school and sang duets. The two were also involved with the planting of Rose Park and New Richmond Baptist Churches. Betty’s strong faith was a hallmark of her life, and her commitment to the Lord was always evident in the way she lived her life and treated others. The day she was “saved” was a true gift from the Lord Jesus Christ, and it changed her life.

After Betty and Bob retired, they began to travel more extensively, visiting 46 states in the U.S. as well as Canada. Whenever it was referenced by the couple that they were traveling, it usually meant they were going “down south” for spring or summer vacation. In 1990, Betty and Bob made a big move to Rogers, AR. Here, Betty enjoyed spending her leisure time watching the Gaither’s on TV, as well as soap operas, church services and sports. She loved the beauty of roses and the color Ocean Blue. One of Betty’s most endearing traits was her humbleness. She was once asked what her special qualities were, which couldn’t think of any, but then replied “I love caring for other people.” It is a gift none of those she touched will ever forget.

Betty Zane Allen, age 78, of Holland, MI went to be with her Lord on Friday, October 21, 2011, at Holland Hospital. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, in 1997, and her parents, Roy and Selma Wells. Surviving is her children: Rev. Michael and Pamela Allen of La Grange, IN, Patrick and Audrey Allen of Holland, Vicky and Hugh Melton of Richmond, VA, Ronald and Debra Allen of Holland, and Rev. Jeffrey and Elyse Allen of Littleton, CO; 9 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 2 step grandchildren; stepmother, Lucille Wells; half-brothers, Terry Wells, Milton Wells and Randall Wells, all of LA; half-sister, Jeanette Straughan of LA; nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, at the Dykstra Funeral Homes-Northwood Chapel, 295 Douglas Avenue, Holland, with the Revs. Jeffrey Allen and Michael Allen officiating. Burial will be in Martin Cemetery in Rogers, AR. Visitation will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, at the chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Oak Crest Manor, 11911 James Street, Holland, MI 49424. Please visit Betty’s personal memory at www.dykstrafuneralhome.com, where you may share a thought with her family and sign her online guest book.