Elizabeth Bentley Burch passed away in Concord, MA on December 3, 2024 at the age of 99.

She was born on March 30, 1925 in Buffalo, NY to Anna Boyle Bentley and Meredith "Trot" Bentley was the middle of seven surviving children.

Betty was a child of the Great Depression. When her father lost his job as a Chemist at Dupont Chemical, they packed what they could fit into one car, leaving belongings- including her doll- by the curbside, and returned to the ancestral 48-acre farm above Lake Canandaigua, NY. Betty remembered picking raspberries 10 hours a day for 3 cents a quart, hobos walking the dusty back roads, and Civil War Veterans marching in the town parade. Money was so scarce that in inclimate weather she had to alternate days attending the one-room schoolhouse because there were not enough shoes to go around.

Betty was always a voracious reader. She graduated from the Canandaigua Academy high school in 1942. With a $100 loan from Rotary Club, she boarded a train to Ann Arbor, MI, with just enough money for one-semester's tuition, two months lodging, and books, to attend the University of Michigan. She worked her way through college, joined Kappa Delta sorority, and met Harold Kenneth Burch, Jr. (Ken). They married on September 29, 1945, and ultimately moved to Dearborn, MI to raise a family.

After graduating from U of M, she worked the switchboard at a department store while Ken attended Dental School. After Ken graduated, with three little kids still at home, she enrolled at the Detroit College of Law, where, as one of only two women in her class, she earned a JD.

Along with practicing law, Betty was involved in AAUW (the American Association of University Women) and the Democratic Party. She was co-chair of the 16th Congressional District (greater Detroit), State Women's Chair, and twice an Elector for the Presidential vote, supporting Jimmy Carter. She unsuccessfully ran for the MI State Supreme Court.

Her efforts were often turned towards charitable works. She would bring home clients in need of shelter: battered women, troubled youth, and families. With Ken she worked on the board of World Medical Relief, and they travelled together to the outback of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Haiti establishing free dental clinics.

After Ken and Betty retired, they moved to Northville, MI and opened a very popular candy and coffee store, named Grandma Betty's Sweets 'n Treats. It was legendary!

After Kens passing in 1995, she continued charitable work on her own. A devastating earthquake occurred in Turkey in 1999 killing 17,000 people. Through Betty's efforts enough donations of food, clothing, baby and medical supplies were accumulated to fill two semi-trucks. She shipped them to Turkey and flew to Istanbul to make sure that all the supplies got into the right hands.

Betty is survived by her three children and their spouses: Terry Burch and Susan Ott of Petersham MA, Meredith and Stanley Szostek of Davidson NC, and Gregory Burch and Marilyn Mudry of Acton MA, along with 8 Grandchildren, Jesse, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Ben, Kip, Ariel, Ezra, and Jasper, and a growing number of Great-Grandchildren.

Services are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty's honor may be made to World Medical Relief .

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.