Dave & Betty

When Dave was 20 and Betty was 25, sometime in 1944, David Reber asked Betty Michael to marry him. She said yes. They were married in February of 1945. This painting is based on the photo Dave’s mom and dad, Ruth and Ferdinand, took of them in their living room, to mark their engagement. They had three daughters: Susan, Bethann, and Meg (short for Margaret). Bethann is my wife. I could write a book about these people, but they have always been rather private. I will say this. They were the absolute best grandparents we could have hoped for for our girls. Betty had been disabled by a severe stroke when Bethann and Meg were still in grade school, and Susan took over the household chores and a lot of looking after them. But Betty always had a listening ear and a fun song at the ready. She was the youngest sister to five older brothers and a sister, in a Welsh, steel mill family. Some of the songs she knew were drinking songs that were rather mischievous. Dave & Susan raised goats and chickens, and all kinds of vegetables on their 2-1/2 acre lot, to provide them and us with wonderful food! Our girls got to learn all about gardening and processing food. We all have memories of shelling peas with Betty. It is hard to say just a little.

David & Betty were not perfect. Nobody is. But I so admired Dave for how he never, ever considered leaving. He worked hard. He was thrifty. He and I did things to cars together that were well beyond our skill levels. We learned. Sometimes we learned to hire professionals. But I can say I have rebuilt a car engine in a freezing cold barn and heard a Baptist deacon swear in ways that I have never heard any other man swear. Good times!

They were good, loving, faithful, and honorable people. We miss them.

This painting is acrylic on 16″ x 20″ stretched canvas. The edges are painted black, so framing is not necessary.

Price: $150 plus postage.

Fill out the form below so we can arrange payment and delivery. I take PayPal, so all credit or debit cards are accepted.