Mourners Say Final Farewell to Betty Ford

Thursday, 14 July 2011

Family, friends and admirers have said a final farewell to former U.S. first lady Betty Ford, who died last week at the age of 93.

Mrs. Ford, an outspoken advocate for women's rights and those battling addiction, was memorialized Thursday in the Michigan church where she married Gerald Ford more than six decades ago. Former president Bill Clinton and former first lady Barbara Bush were in attendance, as well as former vice president Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne Cheney.

Mrs. Cheney remembered the former first lady as a woman with style and courage, saying she changed lives for the better or saved lives through her efforts to fight breast cancer and addiction.

Mrs. Ford is to be laid to rest Thursday next to her husband, on what would have been his 98th birthday, on the grounds of the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Her flower-draped casket arrived Wednesday night in her hometown of Grand Rapids, where hundreds of people participated in a procession and public viewing.

Earlier this week, mourners paid tribute to Mrs. Ford at a service in Palm Desert, California. Those in attendance included U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and former president George W. Bush.

As first lady from 1974 to 1977, Mrs. Ford became known for her candor, famously discussing women's rights, premarital sex and abortion in a television interview. She was diagnosed with breast cancer while at the White House, and became a champion for breast cancer research and awareness.

After leaving the White House, she acknowledged and sought treatment for an addiction to alcohol and painkillers. In 1982, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center in California, still one of the most well-known and well-regarded treatment centers for substance abuse.

Mr. Ford, who died in 2006, was her second husband. The two wed shortly before he was elected to Congress in 1948. He became vice president in 1973 after the resignation of Spiro Agnew — and became president in 1974 after the Watergate scandal led president Richard Nixon to resign.

Michelle Obama and Past Presidents, First Ladies Gather for Betty Ford Funeral

Betty Ford during the state funeral of Gerald Ford in early 2007.

Michelle Obama and Past Presidents, First Ladies Gather for Betty Ford Funeral
Tuesday, 12 July 2011

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and former President George W. Bush are among those gathering at Tuesday's funeral for former first lady Betty Ford, who died Friday in California at the age of 93.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a former first lady herself, is attending with her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Former first ladies Rosalynn Carter and Nancy Reagan also planned to attend.

The service for Mrs. Ford is being held at a church in Palm Desert, California. Her remains will be flown to Michigan for a public viewing and burial alongside her husband, former President Gerald Ford, who died in 2006.

Mrs. Ford was an outspoken advocate for women's rights and women's health.

As first lady from 1974 to 1977, she became known for her candor, famously discussing women's rights, premarital sex and abortion in a television interview. She was diagnosed with breast cancer while at the White House, and became a champion for breast cancer research and awareness.

After leaving the White House, Mrs. Ford acknowledged and sought treatment for an addiction to alcohol and painkillers. In 1982, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center in California, still one of the most well-known and well-regarded treatment centers for substance abuse.

Mrs. Ford was born in Chicago in 1918. She moved to New York in her twenties and worked as a dancer and model.

The late President Gerald Ford was her second husband. The two wed shortly before he was elected to serve in Congress in 1948. He became vice president in 1973 after the resignation of Spiro Agnew — and became president in 1974 after the Watergate scandal led President Richard Nixon to resign.

President Barack Obama said Mrs. Ford distinguished herself through her courage and compassion. He said that as the nation's first lady, she was a powerful advocate for women's health and women's rights.

Former First Lady Betty Ford Dies

Former U.S. first lady Betty Ford, an outspoken advocate for women's rights and the founder of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse, has died at the age of 93. Family members said she died Friday evening.

Mrs. Ford was born in Chicago in 1918. She moved to New York in her twenties where she worked as a dancer and a model.

The late president Gerald Ford was her second husband. The two wed shortly before he was elected to serve in congress in 1948. In 1974, the couple moved to the White House, after the Watergate scandal led president Richard Nixon to resign.

As first lady, Betty Ford became known for her candor, famously discussing women's rights, premarital sex, and abortion in a television interview. She was also diagnosed with breast cancer while at the White House, and became an advocate for breast cancer research and awareness.

After leaving the White House, Mrs. Ford admitted and sought treatment for an addiction to alcohol and painkillers. She co-founded the Betty Ford Center in 1982, still one of the most well-known and well-regarded treatment centers for substance abuse.

President Barack Obama said Mrs. Ford distinguished herself through her courage and compassion. He said that as the nation's first lady, she was a powerful advocate for women's health and women's rights.

Former president Jimmy Carter praised Mrs. Ford for her work in improving mental health and substance abuse care.

Former president George H.W. Bush called Mrs. Ford a “courageous first lady,” a “wonderful wife and mother,” and a “great friend.”

Another former first lady, Nancy Reagan said Mrs. Ford was an “inspiration to so many” thanks to her efforts at the Betty Ford Center, and to educate people about breast cancer.

Illustration: Betty Ford's official White House portrait, painted in 1977 by Felix de Cossio.