Elizabeth Colvin 'Betty' Menser

Elizabeth Colvin “Betty” Menser passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord Jesus and Savior early on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, at Bonner General Hospital.

 Her beloved Harry, husband, lover and friend of 48 years, was at her side when she passed away. Betty fought courageously against the cancers and heart disease that challenged her throughout the latter half of her life, but could not prevail. She is now in a better place and free of pain and suffering.

Betty was born on March 12, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the younger daughter of John and Edna Colvin. She had a happy childhood growing up in Glenshaw, a nearby Pittsburgh suburb. Following completion of high school, Betty graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. After a year of teaching at the high school level in her hometown, she attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she obtained a master’s degree in speech communication.

An adventurous person, Betty decided she would like to pursue teaching at the college level, and in 1958 was appointed to a position in the speech department at the University of Maryland.

On an October evening that year, she met Harry when each were substitute bowlers for the Maryland Speech and Agronomy departmental teams. Harry was overwhelmed when Betty singled Harry out in the crowd, sat down beside him, and said “Hi, what’s your name?” — thus beginning a love affair that lasted nearly a half-century. Even today Harry believes it was their destiny to be together.

After a romantic courtship in Maryland where they hiked the mountains, enjoyed many wonderful outings at the ocean shore, and then spent the most memorable summer of 1959 together at Estes Park, Colo., where Harry was beginning work on his doctorate degree. By the end of summer the die was cast — Harry proposed and, following Betty’s acceptance, they returned together to College Park, Md., where Harry completed his coctorate. On June 18, 1960, they were married at the Glenshaw Presbyterian Church.

In the early 1960s, while residing in College Park, Harry and Betty owned a rustic cabin on a pristine lake in western Pennsylvania, where many enjoyable weekends were had during this carefree time. Betty could often be seen on this small lake, water skiing as the sun rose. Born in March under the sign of Pisces the Fish, Betty was a life-long water person. She learned to swim as a toddler in Pennsylvania and water ski in Colorado. Those loves would follow her throughout life in all the places she lived.

Destiny again entered their lives when their beloved son, Daniel John, came into their life on the day when man first set foot on the moon. That was a most blessed time. Then, on Oct. 10, 1972, they were blessed again when God made possible a little sister, Molly Jean, thus completing their family.

During this time, the Menser family remained in College Park where Betty continued teaching and Harry launched a career in agricultural research at the United States Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Md. Betty loved teaching, but loved the idea of being a mom focused on her children even more.

After a few years, Harry became restless with living in the Washington, D.C., atmosphere, and sought a more appealing place to raise a family. The family then moved to Morgantown, W.V., in 1974, where they remained for the next six years. Betty was often found enjoying her beloved water skiing on nearby Cheat Lake, which also provided a wonderful opportunity for midnight boat rides up the canyon, another favorite outdoor activity.

Despite these more rural hometown surroundings, Harry and Betty could not shake the long-term desire to “Go West” and follow their hearts desire to find the outdoor paradise that is Sandpoint. The family was ecstatic when Harry accepted an appointment as superintendent at the Sandpoint Research and Extension Center, which fulfilled their dream of living in a wonderful community and working closer to the Earth. In 1980, the family arrived in Sandpoint with the boat in tow after a 2,500-mile journey across the country. The family felt fortunate to find a lakefront community in Oden Bay, eventually building their current home along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille so that Betty could engage nearly continuously in water sports.

Throughout her life, Betty’s interest in teaching others continued by offering classes as varied as public speaking, group dynamics, and parliamentary law. While some classes were offered by the North Idaho College Extension program, Betty very much enjoyed working with a small group of students at her home and at a small classroom in her church. It was reported that everyone enjoyed her classes, where much laughter was heard during the instruction. In fact, some of her students returned for the same class time after time. 

They family has always been involved in church life. Over the years, Betty had served as a deacon and as the president of the First Presbyterian Church Women’s organization. She always enjoyed the many deep friendships that were rooted in the church community. Betty had a deep faith and loved her Creator and Savior Jesus Christ. She took great comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit was present in her life. Her love of her family and her country were deep and abiding.

Always there was skiing. For Betty, the water ski season stretched from May through late October, when she was often seen skiing in Halloween witches costume, thus becoming known as the “Witch of Pend Oreille” by the local Daily Bee. Prior to her final illness and after a three-month recovery from open-heart surgery in June 2008, Betty enjoyed September days water-skiing in her beloved lake. She will always be remembered at a person who loved life, lived it fully, and now has gone to a better place.

Betty is survived by her husband, Harry of Sandpoint; son, Dan, and daughter-in-law ,Maria, of Issaquah, Wash.; daughter, Molly, and son-in-law, Curtis, of Vancouver, Wash.; and grandchildren, Madeline, Mason and Daniella and Alexis, Matthew, and Sara.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, with a reception thereafter, both at the First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a special scholarship fund being established, the Betty C. Menser Memorial Scholarship, c/o the First Presbyterian Church, 417 North Fourth, Sandpoint 83864.

Friends may call at Coffelt Funeral Chapel, Friday from 4:00-6:00PM.

Family and friends are invited to sign Betty’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.