Betty I. (Moody) Owen-Tharp, Oconto Falls, formerly of Allegan, MI, died early Sunday morning, August 16, 2015 at Sharpe Care.

She was born January 24, 1924 to Byron and Garnet (Revels) Moody. Betty grew up on a farm in Wellington Township before moving with her family to Nekoosa where she graduated high school.

On June 2, 1943 she married Glenn Owen while he was serving in the military during WW II. Upon her husband’s medical discharge from the service, Betty entered the work force in the Allegan area to help provide for her young family, working as an operator for over 26 years at the General Telephone Co. Glenn preceded her in death in 1986. In 1991 Betty married Jim Tharp and the couple made their home in the Fennville, MI area for many years. She moved back to Wisconsin in 2009. Betty will be fondly remembered for love of interaction with people and her affection for animals, especially horses.

Family includes two daughters, Alice (Myron) Loss, Ocala, FL; Judy Bazan, Allegan, MI; eight grandchildren, many great grandchildren; two sisters, Bethel (Roland) Peckham, Nekoosa; Belva (Erich) Milchner, Oconto Falls; one brother, Byron “Bud” Moody, Nekoosa; many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and two husbands, she was also preceded in death by one daughter, Garnett “Ruth” Melching, two sisters, Berkie Ferkey and Bevelyn Thorne, an infant brother Merit and one grandson Steve Melching.

Memorial services with the urn present will take place 2pm Saturday, August 22, 2015 at the Oconto Gospel Chapel in Oconto, WI. Burial of the urn will be in Millgrove Cemetery, Allegan, MI. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/wisconsinrapidstribune/obituary.aspx?n=betty-i-owen-tharp&pid=175529011#sthash.xR4T1B3X.dpuf