Betty A. Heines, 90, of LaPorte, IN, passed away on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Brickyard LaPorte Care Center with her daughter by her side.
She was born February 24, 1935, in Lockney, Texas, to Joel B. Nance and Jewel Pool. She lived in the community of Lone Star, Texas, attending Lone Star School until it closed. She finished high school in Silverton, TX, graduating in 1952. Betty attended a business college in Plainview, TX, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1953. Upon graduating boot camp in Bainbridge, MD, she headed to Jackson, FL, for Airmen’s School and from there to Pensacola, FL, to Photographer’s School. It was while attending Photographer’s School that she met the love of her life, G. Howard Heines. Betty loved to tell all who asked that she and Howard met in the “dark room.” Betty and Howard were married on November 13, 1954. Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, Betty and Howard moved to South Bend, IN, for Howard’s employment. In 1957, the family moved to a small farm in Lakeville, IN.
Betty and Howard had three children, Richard, Joel, and Sheryl. After Sheryl entered elementary school, Betty began working for the Union North United School Corporation, where she worked for 32 years as a secretary-treasurer at the elementary school. She retired from the school system in 1999.
Betty had a heart of gold and loved serving people. She was involved in her church and wanted more than anything to share the love of her Lord and Savior with others. She served as facilitator for the H.O.P.E. prison ministry, which sent correspondence courses to the incarcerated. She was the co-founder of the Lakeville Chapter T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club, where she lost weight to her goal in less than a year and kept it off for over fifty years. She earned several recognitions for this accomplishment and a trip to the national meeting on her 25th anniversary.
Betty was a member of the Red Hat Society. She exercised daily and loved doing water therapy at the Life Plex in Plymouth. She and seven other neighborhood women, called the “Club Gals,” met often to visit, play games, and eat, forming a bond that lasted for close to 50 years. She was a faithful member of the Marshall County Church of Christ. Always wanting to serve, she sent cards, made phone calls, and did various other things to bring encouragement and hope to their members and the surrounding community.
In the last few years of Betty’s life, she developed dementia. Even through her difficulties, she continued to be a bright light to her family and others who knew her. There was no doubt that when Betty’s light ceased to shine on this side of heaven, she had touched hearts, changed lives, and finished well. Left to cherish Betty’s memory are her three children, Richard (Marci) Heines, Joel (Elaine Cassala) Heines, and Sheryl (Ben) Baker; 15 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and a host of friends and loved ones.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Joel and Jewell Nance, her brothers and sisters, her husband Howard Heines, and her great-granddaughter Zaza Evangeline Heines.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the Palmer Funeral Home, within the Palmer Community Complex, 601 N. Michigan St., Lakeville, IN. Military graveside services and burial will follow at Porter Rae Cemetery, North Liberty. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Friends may also visit with the family beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Betty A. Heines may be donated to Does God Exist, 1555 Echo Valley Drive, Niles, MI 49120, or Visiting Nurse Association, 501 Marquette St., Valparaiso, IN 46383. Online condolences may be offered to Betty’s family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com
