Betty Jane Walaschek Garies, 88, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away on Saturday, February 20, 2021. She was born on March 9, 1932, in San Francisco, Calif., to the late Albert and Irmgard Cramer Walaschek.

Betty was born and raised in San Francisco. She attended UC Berkley and was a Nursing Surgical RN. She and her husband Gerald met folk dancing. They were in multiple performing groups. They taught the Poles in San Francisco to Polish dance and the Greeks in San Diego to Greek dance. They spent eight years in Hong Kong and taught folk dancing there and were involved in the community theater company. Betty was a church choir member her whole life. She will be missed by all her family members and friends. The Lord has blessed her in so many ways.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Gerald Garies; son, Mark Garies; and sister, Carolyn Harshbarger.

She is survived by her daughters, Dana Conklin and Alison Garies; grandsons, Kevin Jones, Bryan Conklin, Craig Conklin, and Eric Conklin; great grandsons, Jackson Jones, Reid Conklin, Lucas Conklin, and Mason Conklin; great granddaughter, Lucy Conklin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mark Garies Memorial Scholarship. The Mark Garies Memorial Scholarship was established in 1986 by the family of Mark Garies at the San Jose Evergreen Community College District Foundation. Mark was a beloved son, brother, friend, and Student Body President at San Jose City College. This scholarship was created to support students with substantial financial need and who demonstrate a contribution to the success of the SJECCD community. Please make checks payable to, SJECCD Foundation and include Mark Garies Memorial Scholarship on the memo line, 40 S. Market Street, 5th Floor, San Jose, CA 95113 or visit http://www.sjeccd.edu/FoundationSite/Pages/Give-Now.aspx. Memorials may also be given to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Choir Fund, 454 Fieldstone Road, Mooresville, NC 28115.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Garies family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.