UPDATED: Barbara L. Betz…July 6, 1929 – June 19, 2015

Funeral services for former Lamar, Colorado resident, Barbara Betz will be held at 3:00 p.m. on June 26, 2015 at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Lamar, Colorado with Pastor Troy Greer officiating.  Interment will take place at Fairmount Cemetery.

Barbara Lee (Applebach) Betz was born on July 6, 1929 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Leonard L. and Bertha Susan (Buckowing) Applebach.  She passed away on June 19, 2015 at her home in Casa Grande, Arizona at the age of 85.  She also had resided for several years in Divide, Colorado.

Barbara was the middle of seven children. She graduated from Grandville High School in 1947 and continued her education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.  Barbara only attended one year at Wayne State before meeting the love of her life, Frederick “Fred” M Betz, Jr..  They were married on August 21, 1948 in Grandville, Michigan.  They began their married life in Boulder, Colorado where Fred attended the University of Colorado.  To this union, Fred and Barbara were blessed with four children; Norman Thomas “Tom” in July 1949, Rebecca Sue “Becky” in September 1950, Gregory John “Greg” in September 1952, and Lynn Marie in August 1956.

Barbara, a wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, aunt, friend, and community member, also found time to work and help out with the family businesses: Lamar Tri-State Daily News and Media TV.  She served as a den leader for cub and boy scouts, brownies and girl scouts, and set mother for Dudes-n-Dames square dancing.  Barbara was a board member for the SE CO Health Care and aided in the search for doctors in the SE Colorado area. She was very involved with politics as she often served as an election judge or precinct committee woman.  She was also a member of the Cameo Club, Beta Sigma Phi, The Directors Club at the University of Colorado, and Red Hat Society.  Barbara faithfully attended the United Methodist Church.  Barbara retired on December 31, 1988.

Barbara is survived by her children, Tom Betz and wife, Ava of Casa Grande, AZ, Becky Larrew and husband, Ken of Beaver, UT; and Lynn Betz-Seybold and husband, Chet of Lakewood, CO; siblings, Norman Applebach and wife, Marge of West Seneca, NY, Jack Applebach and wife, Dorothy of Jenison, MI, Betty Wilson of Grandville, MI, and Judy Applebach of Grand Rapids, MI; 8 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and many other relatives and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Fred Betz, Jr. in 2010; son, Gregory “Greg” John Betz; brothers, Dick and Donald Applebach; son-in-law, Gerald “Stoney” Larrew; and brother-in-law, George Wilson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Betz Family Rural and Geriatric Health Care Endowment at the University of Colorado in care of Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 950, Lamar, CO 81052.