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Frankenmuth News

Serving Frankenmuth since 1906

Volume 120 ~ No. 39

April 1, 2026

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BETTY GOYINGS

Betty Goyings chosen Women's Club Edelweiss Award recipient

By Joan Ramm

  The Frankenmuth Women’s Club recipient of the 2026 Edelweiss Award is a woman whose leadership and volunteerism have impacted the local environment, education, community and religious organizations, and the special needs population.

  Betty Goyings will be honored at the Women’s Club May 6 luncheon at Zehnder’s Restaurant. She was chosen from a group of deserving nominees for her years of generosity, commitment and leadership.

  Betty was surprised by her selection but very grateful and honored to be chosen for this award. “My parents instilled in my sister and me to always ‘Lend a hand when you can’ and it’s been a joy for me to be able to give back to a community that has given so much to me and my family,” Betty said.

  Her long list of community service began more than 50 years ago when she moved to Frankenmuth. She was the first Computer Science instructor at St. Lorenz School when classes were introduced there. When the Farmer’s Market opened, Betty volunteered to help plan menus, set up events, prepare food, serve, wash dishes and promote culinary and social events. She was also selected to dance in the �ncing with the Stars” competition in Frankenmuth, an entertaining fundraiser that netted $100,000 for The Children’s Splash Park and the Frankenmuth Parks and Recreation during the five years of the event.  

  Now age 89, Betty has served as a member of the Frankenmuth Historical Museum, Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum, a board member of the International Aid Foundation for the medical mission work of Frankenmuth’s Dr. Larry Whiting, is an honorary member of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and past treasurer of her condo association. She is also a Charter Member of the 100 Women Who Care, Mid-Michigan. The group of area women has raised and donated more than $500,000 to local non-profit organizations during its 13-year history. 

  Betty recently joined the Frankenmuth Women’s Club. In the past two years, she has taken photos of the club’s Health and Wellness Expo and helped decorate the Bavarian Festival Float even before becoming a member.  She said she had been asked many times to join but between her activities and the ones her �r husband volunteered her for,” there was no time.

  As a long-time resident of a home on the Cass River, she is active in the Cass River Greenway, an organization working with a group of local volunteers assisted by professional resources and municipal leaders to enhance the recreational opportunities and the environmental wellbeing of the Cass River Corridor. In addition to her involvement and support of the group’s river cleanup, she has documented and photographed their projects including new boat ramps, bike trails and river accesses. Her photos are posted on the group’s website and are featured in presentations to educate audiences of the resources that are right in our backyard.

  Betty is also a woman of strong faith who reaches out to care for others. For 20 years she helped organize and co-chaired the 𠇏ishin’ For Mission” benefit auction at the Frankenmuth United Methodist Church which raised more than $250,000 for non-profits including the CAN Council, City Rescue Mission, CrossRoads Counseling, “Special Kids in Action” and many other local charities......

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