Betty Jo (Bogol) McCormick

Betty, daughter of Ignatz and Josephine (Ward) Bogol, was born July 17, 1923 in South Bend, IN. She married Lyle Delmar McCormick on November 2, 1946 in South Bend.  They made their home in Tolono, IL until moving to North Liberty in May, 1948.

Betty died August 3, 2015.  Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery, North Liberty, IN.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Ignatz and Josephine Bogol; husband, Lyle, died January 16, 1987; her sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Dick Grisamer, formerly of Syracuse, IN, sister-in-law, Carol Bogol, formerly of Mishawaka, IN.  Also a granddaughter, Kristin Schalliol died February 2, 2002.

Surviving are a brother, Robert Bogol of Mishawaka; three daughters, Joyce (Michael) Schalliol, Mishawaka, IN; Karen (Joseph) Dregits, Osceola, IN; Joan (David) Garber, Normal, IL and a son, Thomas (“Tish”) McCormick, North Liberty, IN.  Also surviving are nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Betty grew up two blocks south of Epworth Methodist Church on Olive Street in South Bend, where she started attending Sunday School at about five years of age.  When she was about seven, she started taking piano lessons and started to play for the Sunday School.  The Sunday School superintendent would pick out songs, Betty would learn to play them, and then those attending Sunday School would learn to sing those songs.  She sang in the youth choir till old enough to join the adult choir then became the youth choir pianist.  After starting to work at Studebakers, she took organ lessons and became the assistant organist at the church.  She also taught a teenagers Sunday School class.  When Betty and Lyle married, they moved to Tolono, IL, a town smaller than North Liberty, and she became the organist for that Methodist church.  Upon moving to North Liberty in the spring of 1948, Betty was asked to be the organist for the North Liberty Methodist Church.  Mrs. Maude Pearse had been the organist for over 50 years, playing an old pump organ that after many years of use, had had an electric motor attached.  A new electric organ had been ordered for the church and Mrs. Pearse decided she did not want to learn to play a new organ.  Betty accepted the position and played the organ and piano for the North Liberty Methodist Church for over 60 years.  Betty was secretary for four of the church’s pastors and held many positions on the church board and in the Sunday School program.  She was an active member of the Methodist Women.  Betty was the first president of the “Treasure Chest” mission resale store board.  She also was an organist for the former A.M. Manuel Funeral Home.  In 1993, Betty received the North Liberty Lions Club “Citizen of the Year” award.  Betty was a charter member of the North Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce, served on the original Potato Creek Festival Committee, was an active member of the North Liberty Community Building board and was a Lifetime Member in the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Unit 365, Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Unit 1954, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary and the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home for Children.

Services will be held on Saturday, August 8, at the North Liberty United Methodist Church; 103 S. Main Street, North Liberty, IN 46554 at 11:00 AM; Pastor Ernie Troxell will officiate.   Friends may visit with the family on Friday, August 7 between 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Palmer Funeral Home – North Liberty Chapel; 202 N. Main Street, North Liberty, IN 46554 and one hour prior to services at the church.  Burial will take place at Westlawn Cemetery.  Memorial contributions can be made to Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202 or the VFW National Home, 3573 South Waverly Road, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827 or a charity of one’s choice.  Online condolences may be left for the McCormick family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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