Obituary for Betty Jean Brisson-Kleppe 7-3-23
Betty Jean Brisson-Kleppe was born in Sanford, Fla. on April 5, 1934, at the old Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital. Her parents were R. Gordon and Jessie Brisson, both deceased.
She attended local schools until her high school years when she chose to attend Forest Lake Academy, Apopka, Fla. Being a Christian school, she gained many valuable experiences there and made lifelong friends.
Her college years were spent at Southern Adventist University, Collegedale TN, where she met her future husband, Bob McKee. Married in 1955 and moved to Tampa where they lived until just before their first child Lynne, was born in 1957 when they were living in Sanford. Jeff, their second child was born in 1959 followed by Sandra in 1960. The children enjoyed growing up in Sanford and had many memorable experiences during those formative years. Jeff and Sandy went on to graduate from University of Florida while Lynne began her interesting pathway in the field of Interior Design.
She met Tom Kleppe through friends and they had their first blind date at the tennis courts. They both shared a passion for tennis and soon felt the common thread of interest between them. They were married on July 7, 1979 and enjoyed 32 years until Tom's passing in 2011. During those years they enjoyed extensive travel experiences to many interesting destinations.
Betty enjoyed many different interests during her lifetime including oil painting, playing the organ and piano, travel, reading and gardening. She especially loved being a member of the Sunshine Garden Club of Tuscawilla and working in her beloved little home garden. She always considered her quiet times in gardening as good therapy.
Her priorities were God and her faith, her family and caring for others whenever they needed help. She was always happiest whenever she was surrounded by her loving family. When she and Tom married, she felt blessed by the addition of her stepchildren who immediately became her own.
Certainly a life well lived!
Surviving Family Members: Daughter Lynne McKee-Rush and her husband Brian Rush of Sanford FL.Son Jeffrey McKee and wife Liza sons Austin and Miles, Delray Beach Fl. Daughter Sandy Anderson and husband Bob and granddaughter, Jessica Lynne of Hoover, Al. Brother Bob Brisson, wife Marilyn of Palm
Harbor, FL, niece Susie Brisson-Magee and husband Jerry of Winter Park, Fl, and former husband Bob McKee of Sanford.
Stepchildren: Dr. Kristin Kleppe, husband Joseph and daughter Natalie, Ladera Ranch, CA. Mitch Kleppe and wife Rena of Boca Raton, Fl. Sons Tommy, Hendersonville, NC Erik, Ally of Boca Raton Fl. Lisa Esola, husband Pat, daughter Allie Jones husband Jesse, children Miley and husband Jesse, children Miley and Gannon. Granddaughter Ariana Sherriff, all from Englewood, CO.