Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Perla
KINGSFORD – Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Perla, 54, of Kingsford, passed away on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, unexpectedly at her home.
She was born on July 31, 1962, in Hancock, a daughter of Donald and Elaine (Ylitalo) Juntunen.
Betty attended Houghton High School and graduated with the class of 1980. She went on to attend Finlandia University, where she received her Associate Degree as a Registered Nurse and most recently obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Betty worked at St. Vincent Hospital, in Green Bay, Wisconsin for two years.
She married Alan Perla on August 28, 1988, in Hancock.
She worked for Dickinson County Hospital as a registered nurse on the surgical floor for many years; since 2008, Betty worked for the Oscar G. Johnson Veterans Hospital as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and the Community Living Center “C.L.C.”.
Betty enjoyed the outdoors and taking pictures of everything nature has to offer. She loved travelling, four wheeling, camping, boating and was an avid Detroit Red Wings hockey fan.
Betty truly enjoyed following her son Andrew during his hockey years and her daughter Melissa in tennis, bowling and music. She was extremely proud of her children and all that they have accomplished over the years.
Betty loved her work and the patients she cared for were most important to her.
Over the years, she and Alan had many dogs, which she loved very much.
Betty is survived by her husband, Alan; one son, Andrew Joseph Perla, U.S. Army; one daughter, Melissa Jeane Perla of Grand Rapids; her father, Donald (Marie) Juntunen of Houghton; three brothers, David (Christine Schueller) Juntunen of Minneapolis, Dennis (Jennifer) Juntunen of Minneapolis and Dan Juntunen of Houghton; three sisters-in-law, Janet (Rex) Terwilliger of Iron Mountain, JoEllen Hahn of Albany, New York and Virginia “Jinny” Hrdlicka of Tucson, Arizonia; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her mother, Elaine, Betty was preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law, Joseph and Jeane Perla.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 23, 2016, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 23, 2016, at 1 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Pastor Stephen Cowen will officiate.
Burial will be in Oskar Cemetery in Houghton.
A memorial will be established in Betty’s memory.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Betty or leave a condolence for her family online at JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron Mountain, to honor Betty’s legacy of life.