Betty F. Benson died peacefully on February 21, 2025 in San Antonio, TX.  She often said " I have no idea why my life was so blessed."  She had many friends, a great family, and a life full of laughter. She was an amazing storyteller and firmly believed there wasn't a story that couldn't be improved with a little embellishment.

She was raised in Ness City, Kansas where her parents Sam and Freda Fritzler ran the IGA grocery store. She couldn't wait for Old Settlers Reunions to re-live her senior class trip to Denver.  She graduated from Kansas State University, where she was a member of Mortar Board and served as the Student Body Vice-President her senior year.  A life-long loyal KSU supporter, the KSU Fight Song was one of the last songs she remembered.

She met her husband Joe C. Benson, Jr. while at K-State. After graduation they married and moved to Denver, Colorado where they made lifelong friends. They were quite the group – good times and laughter followed them throughout their lives.  They continued to meet for over 30 years in Manhattan for football games and in Aspen to ski. They had so much fun! These were Betty's favorite times.

Betty and Joe moved to Garden City with their two children, Ann and Jay, in 1958. Betty taught at Theoni and Plymell, before spending over 20 years at Holcomb Elementary. She loved her students and especially liked running into them once they were grown. She had no qualms about asking some of her former students, who worked at the bank, to help her balance her checkbook.

Betty was an active member of First United Methodist Church. She taught the 4-year-olds for years, then graduated to teach the Young Adult Class. The young adults adored her and to this day say how much she meant to them. Betty served on many committees including the Board of Trustees.

After Betty retired, she stayed active in the community volunteering with many organizations, meeting her P.E.O. sisters, performing in plays, and hanging out with her friends – Elaine, Martha, Mary Lou, Bernice and countless others.

One of her proudest accomplishments was being a Founding Member of the Western Kansas Community Foundation. She was honored to speak at the National Community Foundation Conference on their fine work in western Kansas.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents Sam & Freda, her brother Jim, her husband Joe, her son Jay, and great grandson Owen. She is survived by her daughter Ann McGlone (Mike), and her grandchildren Forrest Benson (Courtney), Natalie Morrow (Travis), Sam McGlone (Micaela), Benson McGlone (Alicia) and Heather Benson (Roman Carlson). She also leaves behind her great grandchildren – Hudson, Hazel, Esther, Turner, Idan, Olivia, Prudence, Gideon, Maverick, Lees, and Charlotte.

Betty's was a life well lived.

The funeral service will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Ness City Cemetery. A reception in celebration of Betty's life will be held at the Golf Club at Southwind in Garden City, Kansas on March 7 from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to the Joe and Betty F. Benson Donor Advised Fund at the Western Kansas Community Foundation.

Words of comfort and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.