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Remembering Rebekah: Family, friends walk to honor mother killed

Posted at 2:16 PM, Jun 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-25 23:34:07-04

WHITEHALL, Mich. — Dozens of walkers honored a Muskegon County wife and mother during Saturday afternoon's Remembering Rebekah Walk.

Rebekah Bletsch, 36, was found shot to death in June 2014 while jogging less than a mile from her home in rural Dalton Township. Jeffrey Willis is now charged with her murder. A judge decided Wednesday there was enough evidence to send Willis to trial.

Rebekah Bletsch

Rebekah Bletsch

Saturday's Remembering Rebekah Walk both started and ended at Goodrich Park, located at 100 N. Lake St., on the northeast shore of White Lake in Whitehall. Rebekah's family made it clear that Saturday's walk was all about Rebekah, not the man that took her life. They shared memories of Becky and wore her favorite color, pink, to honor her memory.

“This is going to be a long road and we’re here to lean on each other," said Jessica Josephson, Becky's sister. "This day is all about Becky, it’s time to hear more about Becky than it is to hear about Jeffrey."

The walk route traveled a 3-mile path along the paved bike trail, past the Eagles to the end of the trail before returning to the park.

It has been two years since Rebekah's death, but her family and friends say the pain is still there.

"I don't feel any different," said Kelly Buzzell, a friend of Rebekah. "It is just as horrible as it was on the first day to be honest."

The decision to send Willis to trial is finally bringing the family some closure.

"I spent two years wondering what really happened and when we found out who was responsible that anger seemed to go away," said Nick Winberg, Becky's father.

"We're not going to let one kind of a low life individual ruin our family happiness, we're going forward, working through it as best we can."