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Betty Irene (Gootee) Held, 77, of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of Hammond, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the Willow Ridge Center in Maynardville, Tennessee. Born in Hammond, Indiana on June 21, 1939 to Delbert and Minnie (Duncan) Gootee, Betty was raised in Hammond, Indiana. She fondly told stories of her childhood with her many siblings and the dear friends she had at Lincoln and Irving Elementary schools, at Hammond Tech High School, and at Douglas (Pulaski) Park, where she was box hockey champion. On December 27, 1958 she married Richard R. Held at St. Joseph’s Church in Dyer, Indiana. A longtime member of St. Casmir Church in Hammond, Betty was a devoted wife and mother of five. She was active in the Calumet Region participating in neighborhood initiatives and writing letters to the editor passionately expressing her views. She enjoyed writing poetry. Betty was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs, and never doubted for a moment that she would see her Cubbies win the World Series. After the death of her husband in 1991, Mrs. Held moved to Knoxville where she enjoyed the company of her siblings and the role of Grandma to her Tennessee grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and husband; her brothers: Bobby, Eugene, Danny, Don, and Delbert Gootee; and sisters: Patsy Ann Gootee and Adelle Wartman. Betty is survived by her five children: Richard Held, Jr. (Kazi Wilkins) of Knoxville, Tennessee, Bambi Held (Terry Mares) of Keyport, New Jersey, Don Held (Cyndi Ritzi) of Cincinnati, Ohio, John Held of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Dianne Held of Wichita, Kansas; four grandchildren: Jennifer Dahl of Highland, Indiana, Faith Held of Knoxville, Tennessee, Jacob Held of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Kit Held-Mares of Keyport, New Jersey; and two great-grandchildren: Teilye Dahl of Highland, Indiana, and Zackary Ballow of Knoxville, Tennessee. Betty is also survived by her brothers: Jim (Ann) Gootee, CH (Carla) Gootee; sisters: Amelia Pieper, Maggie (Herb) Welk, Barbara (Henry) Cook, Sharon Pine, and Becky Pemberton; and many nieces and nephews. The family expresses humble thanks and admiration to the staff at Willow Ridge Center in Maynardville, Tennessee who filled Betty’s last months with extraordinary care and consideration. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Caris Hospice Knoxville Area Office, 10651 Coward Mill Road, Suite B, Knoxville, TN 37931 (866) 694-4988 http://carishealthcare.com/about-us/donations/ A visitation will be held on Friday, February 10, 2017 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Memory Lane Funeral Home, 6305 W. Lincoln Highway (US 30), Crown Point, Indiana. A private family farewell will begin at 4:00 p.m. Please call the funeral home for further information (219) 322-2050. www.memorylanepark.com

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Betty Irene Held

June 21, 1939 - February 4, 2017