Betty J. Terman , 86, of Columbia City, IN, passed away in the company of family at 7:15 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2026, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester, where she was a resident since 2013.

Born on November 13, 1939, in Indianapolis, Indiana, she was a daughter of the late Glen and Norma (Dilley) Hight. Her formative years were spent in the Shelby County area, and she graduated from Morristown High School in 1957.

On June 15, 1958, she married Maurice Scheffler.  They made their home in Shelbyville, raising three children.  The couple divorced.  In 1973, she moved to North Manchester.  On March 19, 1976, she married Dean A. Terman, Sr.  The couple made their home at Troy Cedar Lake raising two additional children.  On July 1, 1993, she moved to Columbia City.

For over 21 years, Betty worked at Star Financial Bank in Columbia City as an administrative assistant and a loan clerk.

She was active in the Little Turtle Archaeology Research Society, the Friends of the Peabody Library, and the Grace Lutheran Prayer Shawl Group, and volunteered at the Whitley County Senior Center.

A talented crafter, she made items for the residents at Peabody Retirement Community, often given as BINGO prizes.  She enjoyed knitting scarves, afghan blankets, and other items, often with a holiday theme.  She loved her cats over the years and kept her mind sharp by working on daily crossword puzzles.

Surviving are her children, Phyllis (Kevin) Butler of North Manchester, Paul (Deborah) Scheffler of Columbia City, Philip (Marissa) Scheffler of Indianapolis, Tamatha May of Valparaiso, and Timothy (Amy) Terman of Fort Wayne; grandchildren; Michael Blevins, Stephanie Hudson, Aiden Terman, Audra Terman, Hailey May and Riley May; great-grandchildren, Carleigh and Chase Blevins and River Hudson and Skye Kline.

Additionally, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Carol Swango and Kathy Ebert, and her former husbands, Maurice Scheffler and Dean Terman.

The funeral service is 2 p.m. Wednesday (June 10th) at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at the Adams Cemetery in Columbia City.  Visitation is from 1 p.m. until the service at the funeral home.

Memorials in Betty's honor are to the Humane Society of Whitley County or the Whitley County Senior Center.