Forever, Betty Levain

Missouri Photo Workshop 78

When Betty Leivan was 18 years old, her older sister died in a car accident, leaving her two young children motherless. When her sister’s ex-husband killed Betty’s niece and his new wife three years later, Betty’s life spiraled into a decades-long period of drug abuse and a transient lifestyle that spanned multiple state lines. 

Fourteen years later, Betty was 32 years old and determined to get sober. She checked herself into Maryville’s mental health clinic. Upon arriving, Betty saw Michelle Jones, a mental health counselor and, at that moment, Betty had an unwavering belief that she was meeting the woman that she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Michelle, who was 40 at the time, and her young daughter Erin were the family that Betty needed as she repaired the life that was taken from her.

Over their 24 years together, the two have become guardians for two teenage relatives, cared for their aging parents and raised Erin. To Betty, family is the core of who you are, she says. “When I first saw Michelle, I knew that I had found my forever and that was home." 

Betty Leivan, 56, is store manager at Break Time, a convenience store at a gas station in Maryville, Mo. She works the morning shift at 5 a.m. and sometimes slips away for a smoke.

Betty pins on her name tag, “Bad Betty,” when she arrives at the store. She was hired five years ago when she took guardianship over her two teenage relatives, Jasper, 16, and Katie, 13. “I’ve always done what I felt was right. Family is everything to me,” she said.

Betty wipes down the facade of the glass door at the store. Her days are long, and while she may not know every customer by name, she knows their breakfast order and their favorite cigarettes. 

Betty wipes down the shelves at Break Time. She is dedicated to maintaining the store but previously worked as a boilermaker and has her ammonia refrigeration certificate. 

Betty helps a regular customer at the register. Most of Break Time's patrons are trade workers and farmers in the area. When Betty knows she will be missing work, she often informs her regulars about her absence. 

Betty and her wife, Michelle Jones, 64, became grandparents 13 years ago. On Thursdays, her grandchildren come over after school. Terren, 9, right, walks to Betty’s car from school. His favorite part of the day is when his “gma” picks him up. 

Terren and Betty make silly faces in the mirror at Betty’s house.

Brothers Terren, left and Quincey, 10, sit and look at a toy catalogue while Betty relaxes on the recliner with her cat, Jasper. Every Christmas, one person in the family gets to choose a toy of their liking, regardless of price. 

One of Betty’s favorite hobbies is 3D-printing. Her craft room has two machines, where she makes fidgets or dragons for the neighborhood kids. 

Katie and her brother, Jasper, moved to Maryville from Trenton, Mo. five years ago. Katie plays the trumpet for the high school band and loves to read books, especially the Amulet series. Jasper stands at the entrance of her room. No brothers allowed. 

Michelle, center, works as a psychologist for children and adults. Every evening when she returns home from work, she texts Betty one word: “garage.” The two smoke a cigarette and decompress after a long day.

Michelle and Betty share a kiss.