Betty Jane (Schmidt) Pigman

It is with truly full hearts that we announce that Betty Jane Pigman (Schmidt) passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 21st, 2024 in Couer d'Alene, Idaho. She was with loving family by her side and friends and family across the country holding her dear. 

Betty was born (July 23, 1933) and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio to Louise and Oscar Schmidt. She always shared such fond memories of her childhood, especially spending time in her dad’s candy store and print shop, as well as Walnut Street Baptist Church, a center of her family’s life. She then found her way to Franklin College, Indiana, following in her big sister Peg’s footsteps. She majored in Elementary Education, became a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and met the love of her life, Herb Pigman, in their freshman year.

 Shortly after graduation, they married, moved to Michigan for a short time, where she taught 1st grade and started a family with their first born, Jennifer Kay. With Herb changing careers, they moved to Evanston, Illinois where they lived for 5 years, adding three more children: Sally Jo, Elizabeth Ann and Thomas Andrew. They then moved to their first house in Highland Park, Illinois for 8 years adding their 5th child, Daniel Edward. Moving back to Evanston once more, Betty kept busy raising her 5 children, being very active at First Baptist Church (where they were members for 32 years), hosting 5 Rotary exchange students and working part time for CMA and her beloved church.

 Later in life, she and Herb retired to a rural Indiana 5 acre farm, outside of Boswell, Indiana, where they made a whole new community of friends and neighbors. Locust Grove UM Church became a mainstay in their lives and the congregation always appreciated Betty for her weekly piano accompaniment. Betty became a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Boswell, IN. She was also an active member of the local Dulcimer group, The Prairie Players. “The Farm” became a beloved destination for family and friends alike and they enjoyed another 25 plus years of building beautiful memories with their country living. It wasn’t unusual to see Betty walking her menagerie of animals down the road, with goats, miniature horses, dogs and cats in tow! 

Betty was a wonderful and loving wife, mother and grandmother, as she always wanted to be, setting a lovely example for her 5 children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She also loved being a daughter, sister, sister-in-law and aunt and valued family time together. Herb and Betty modeled the importance of family. They also shared the value of being a welcoming place for visitors and those in need alike. In addition to being world travelers themselves, they hosted many people throughout the years and helped those in need as they could. This taught the whole family to be welcoming, open and supportive of others, something they all carry with them to this day. 

Family was at the heart of Betty’s life and her grandchildren appreciated her freezer full of ice cream and her loving greetings filled with smiles and pride every time they visited. She loved to play the piano and one often heard show tunes or hymns being played. Everyone loved hearing how Betty learned to fly an airplane or host foreign visitors, juxtaposing this with her down-to-earth nature. She exemplified appreciation for the simple things in life and the wonder of those amazing moments she never imagined as a child she would experience. 

The Pigman family would like to thank all those who loved and cared for Betty in her final years, as she journeyed through dementia in a way only Betty could. To all family, dear friends and new caregivers and friends made along the way, to the communities of Warren County Indiana, Dodgeville Wisconsin, Couer d'Alene Idaho, Kenosha Wisconsin, LaGrange IL and beyond, what a gift it was for you to be such a caring and loving part of Betty's life. And you know she loved you too, because that was the gift she shared with all to the very end.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Herb Pigman, her parents, Louise and Oscar Schmidt and her brother Harold Schmidt. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Downey; her children Jennifer Wayman (David); Sally Huck (Paul); Elizabeth Bothfeld (Henry); Thomas Pigman (Anne); Daniel Pigman (Jen); grandchildren Nate Bothfeld (Bre); Will Bothfeld (Kris); Grace Bothfeld (Ryan); Lydia Huck (Chris); Jacob Wayman (Brit); Kaili Pigman; Katie Walker(Tim); Hannah English (Nate); Andrew Pigman (Sasha); Abby Malcom (Ian); Margaret Huck; Luke Pigman; Alena Pigman; Sophie Pigman; Evelyn Pigman and 10 great grandchildren. 

She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Services to be held at Locust Grove Church (8362 North 600 West, Ambia IN) on Saturday, August 10th, with visitation at 1:00 and service beginning at 2:00pm. Donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer's Association or the Warren County Community Foundation.