×

Betty Jane Giovence

Betty Giovenco

ESCANABA — Betty Jane Giovence, 81, of Escanaba passed away Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay, Wis.

She was born April 21, 1944, at St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, Mich., to Clarence and Bernice (Good) Sundquist. She was raised on the family farm in Pine Ridge. Betty received many honors and awards for work in 4-H.

Betty graduated with honors from Escanaba High School in June 1962, receiving the Ann C. Norton Scholarship. She attended North Park College in Chicago, graduating in 1966 with a bachelor of arts degree. She married Sydney Giovenco on June 26, 1965, at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Escanaba.

She worked as an academic secretary, engineering assistant and legal assistant for more than 30 years when her career was cut short by a stroke in 2023. She was recognized as employee of the year at Gassman and Moore in 1999. She was a longtime member of the Evangelical Covenant Church where she taught Sunday School, a leader in the women’s ministry, and member of the church board.

Betty is survived by her husband, Sydney; daughters Kristin Joy, Deborah Jean, and Julianna Marie (Brett) McDowell of Maple Vally, Wash.; beloved grandchildren Zoe McDowell and Quinn McDowell; siblings Clyde (Donna) Sundquist of Marinette, Wis., Kathleen (Rolla) Dolph, Sun City, Ariz., Roy (Lois) Sundquist of Mt. Prospect, Ill., and Edith Gosh of Antioch, Ill.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Clinton Sundquist in 1962.

Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at the Covenant Church in Gladstone. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at the Covenant Church in Gladstone with the Rev. Aaron Anderson officiating. A meal will be served after the service in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the family would like any memorials directed to the Covenant Church in Gladstone. Burial will take place in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The Anderson Funeral Home is assisting the Giovenco family with the arrangements and online condolences can be sent to the family at www.andersonfuneralhomes.net.