Betty Mae (Rapuzzi) Johannes

Wasilla resident Betty Mae (Rapuzzi) Johannes, 85, died June 25, 2011, with her loving husband and daughter at her side in Palmer.

No services are planned.

Betty was born March 14, 1926, the daughter of Charles and Mabel (Lee) Rapuzzi in Juneau. She was a third generation Alaskan whose grandmother, Teresa Rapuzzi, brought her family to Skagway during the Gold Rush.

She grew up in Skagway and finished her last two years of high school in Seattle. A few years after graduation she met the love of her life — Eugene W. Johannes — while biking around Green Lake. They were married in Seattle and honeymooned in Skagway. Their first year and a half of marriage was spent on Gene’s family farm in St. Cloud, Minn. Realizing farm life was not for her, she, Gene and their 6-week-old daughter traveled by train and boat to Skagway, moving to Anchorage a few months later.

After her children entered school she began work as a secretary at Turnagain Elementary, transferring to several other schools during her career. She and Gene constructed and sold a number of homes in the Anchorage area, living in them just until they were finished. The couple retired early and became snowbirds, traveling between Wasilla and Green Valley, Ariz. They were rarely apart and recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

Betty was a thoughtful and caring person who never missed marking that special occasion with a card or gift. She was generous with her time in helping others, always willing to lend a hand. Her family and friends knew they could always count on her. She greatly enjoyed her family and was skilled at gardening, crafts and entertaining.

She is survived by her loving husband, Eugene; children, Nora (Tom) Knox, Dale (Phyllis) Johannes and Terry (Kristina) Johannes; grandchildren, Adrienne Johannes, Amy Johannes, Nicholas Braman, Rebekka (Michael) Zeitler, Justin Johannes, Kristi (Skip) Hickey, Marissa Johannes, Andrew Johannes and Emilie Johannes; and great-grandchildren, Zoe Zeitler and Ezra Braman.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory cared for the family.