Betty May Habenicht Park, loving and much-loved wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, died peacefully at her home in White Rock, S.C. on Thursday, December 19, 2024. She was 95 years old.
Betty was born in Columbia, S.C. on August 9, 1929, to Frederick Seegers Habenicht and Florence Milne Seegers Habenicht. She had a wonderful childhood growing up in Columbia, enjoying church activities, piano, ballet and tap lessons, and time spent with her family, friends and neighbors. Her first job was in the summer of 1942 during World War II, at the age of 13. Because of the war, new shot gun shells were not available to hunters so a local businessman hired Betty and a friend to recondition used shotgun shells and reload them for sale. This very unique job was not heroic or glamorous, but properly executing the multiple steps did require great care and accuracy, skills Betty would exhibit and expect throughout her life as a family member, volunteer and professional.
In 1946 Betty graduated from Columbia High School and entered Duke University. The summer following her freshman year she served as a counselor at a Lutheran camp where she met “the man of her dreams,” Harold Park. Their courtship was long distance since Harold had no car and was studying at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, earning his Master of Divinity degree in 1949. Betty earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University in 1950 and they married that June 27th when the temperature registered 104 degrees. Fortunately, their wedding reception was held in the airconditioned Jefferson Hotel, downtown Columbia. Betty and Harold were happily married for 69 years.
Betty was an active volunteer, visionary, planner and leader throughout her life. Her husband, Reverend Park, formed Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Forest Acres, Columbia, and Betty became the wife of its first Parish Pastor, mother of three children and Sunday School teacher between 1950 and 1958. When they moved to Princeton in 1958 for Harold to attend graduate school at Princeton Theological Seminary, Betty was a member of Princeton Seminary Wives and a charter member of the Princeton Newcomers Club. Moving back to Columbia, Betty became a Cub Scout Den Mother for three years. In 1964 she served as Chairman of Advanced Gifts, Women’s Division of the United Fund of Richland/Lexington Counties.
Betty was an active member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church and the South Carolina Synod throughout her entire life. She attended and taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Weekday Church School. She served on many different Ministry Boards, often as the Chairman, with special interest in Worship and Community ministries. Betty was the first woman elected as President of Ebenezer’s Congregation Council in 1995 and served in this capacity three times. She was a Stephen minister, an active member of the Care Team and a Team Leader for one of Ebenezer’s capital campaigns. Prior to that she was President of Lutheran Church Women at Ebenezer 1966-1970, Executive Board Member of Lutheran Church Women in South Carolina 1970 -1972 and Chairman of the Local Arrangements Committee for the 1971 State convention. She also served the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as Chairman of the Social Ministry Committee, a member on the Regional Advisory Council, Lutheran Immigration and Relief Services, and a member on the Commission on Inclusiveness. Betty was elected President of the South Carolina Christian Action Council for four years, 1993 through 1996. Later she served on its Development and Long-range Planning Committee. The Council is the interdenominational agency of churches in the state.
Betty had a strong commitment to bringing people together and fostering teamwork to address community needs. During the late 1960’s into the mid 70’s she served in many roles with local and state levels of Church Women United as a member of the Executive Board, Chairman of the Executive Committee, President of Church Women United in Columbia, Board member of the S.C. Church Women United, Coordinator of the Ecumenical Action planning group. As President of CWU, Betty led in organizing the Volunteer Action Center of Richland/Lexington Counties in 1974, which centralized and coordinated volunteer needs and recruitment for numerous religious and community service efforts in the greater Columbia area.
A major communitywide need identified in 1974 was for home delivered meals. As a volunteer, Betty was the chairman of the first committee which conducted the study in November 1975 and started Meals on Wheels in Richland and Lexington counties. The first meals were delivered in December that year and four months later in April 1976, Betty was hired as the Director of Meals on Wheels. Her first professional paying job 26 years after graduating from college! Betty rendered outstanding service just shy of 16 years, leading the meals program into greatly expanded services, successfully navigating through major organizational changes in state and nonprofit agencies and through times of scarce financial resources. Her skills in planning, salesmanship and teamwork allowed Meals on Wheels to extend to every corner of Richland and Lexington Counties. Betty personally performed each task herself and delivered meals on each route over time to ensure volunteers and staff were properly trained and prepared, and resources were maximized. She appealed to groups, businesses, legislators and potential donors for support, listened to recipients and family members and interpreted and fulfilled necessary government and regulatory requirements. In 2001, the United Way of the Midlands awarded Betty its 2000 Community Leader Award in recognition of her work.
Education for people of all ages was important to Betty. She actively participated in PTA and Booster Clubs at her children’s elementary, middle and high schools. For three years she volunteered at the Zion Office of Economic Opportunity (O.E.O.) Child Care Center at Zion Baptist Church. Between 1971 and 1975 Betty served on the Richland School District 1 Advisory Committee and as a Student/Teacher/Parent team member in the Support Public Education Program. Betty was a Laubach Literacy tutor with the Greater Columbia Literacy Council, Planning Committee member for Columbia College’s School of Missions and served as a Discussion Leader with the S.C. League of Women Voters.
Following her retirement Betty remained involved as a Meals on Wheels volunteer. She also volunteered at the Lowman Home and served as President of the Board of Directors in the late 1980s. When Lutheran Homes of South Carolina was formed, Betty was elected to the new governing Board and for a time also served as Chairman of the Lowman Home Advisory Board. She served on the Lutheran Homes Foundation Board for six years, during which time she was asked to become Lowman’s Volunteer Coordinator as a volunteer! In 2002, at age 72, Betty accepted the challenge and developed a robust volunteer program serving all the residents. In 2010, the Aging Services of SC Association, which represents providers and non-profit organizations serving older adults, recognized Betty and her work as the recipient of their 2010 Volunteer Service Award. She also found time to volunteer at the Cooperative ministry clothes closet, the Soup Kitchen at Washington Street United Methodist Church and Lake Murray Sisters in Service.
In her “spare” time, Betty enjoyed square dancing with Harold in the Tanglefoot Dance Club, working daily crossword puzzles and playing bridge. She coordinated the Wednesday bridge games at the Heritage until passing the torch in 2024.
Mrs. Park is survived by two sons and one daughter, Fred Park (Renée) of Bluffton, S.C., John Park of Greenville, S.C. and Lois Park Mole (Craig) of Columbia, S.C.; three grandchildren, Bryan Park, Ashley Park Twitchell (Mike) and Jennifer Park; four great grandchildren, Maggie, Claire, Grace and Ava and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Betty was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, The Reverend Harold F. Park, her parents, Fred and Florence Seegers Habenicht, and her half-sister, Hermine Habenicht Brown.
The family expresses a special thank you and great appreciation to the caregivers from BeWell Home Services, and the nurses and staff of Lutheran Hospice for their exceptional care and services.
In lieu of flowers to honor Betty’s memory, the family requests that memorials be made to the Living Stones Legacy, Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201.
A Celebration of Life worship service will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, S.C. A Hymn Sing will begin at 2:45 p.m. and a visitation will follow the service.
Betty was a very busy lady who enjoyed people. People enjoyed her! She had a good nature, positive attitude and the ability to remember people, dates and events important to them. Her faith in God’s will was unwavering as was her love of her family and friends. A visionary and practical planner who cared about all people, she exemplified the ultimate role model of unselfish volunteer leadership, giving 100 percent of herself 100 percent of the time.
