Elizabeth Simons, 80, passed away on February 13, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz., with her family by her side, after a long and courageous battle with blood cancer.

Elizabeth, known as “Betsy,” was born September 11, 1943, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to William and Marion Templeton. She graduated from Washburn High School in 1961 and Macalester College in 1965.

She married Gary R. Simons on July 2, 1966, and the two enjoyed a loving partnership for 57 years. They lived in many different places, including St Louis, Mo.; Nashville, Tenn.; Overland Park, Kan.; Malvern, Penn.; Southbury; Crosslake, Minn.; and Tucson, Ariz.

Betsy was known to family and friends as an incredibly kind, calm, patient, joyful and loving person. She made friends everywhere she went and put the people around her at ease. Betsy loved children and was an exceptional and beloved kindergarten teacher for 18 years. She earned her Montessori credential midway through her career, and this teaching philosophy became a true passion for her at Newtown Montessori School. After she retired from teaching, she served as CFO of the family business for a decade. Betsy was actively involved with volunteer work for church and community throughout her life.

Betsy was an avid reader, and enjoyed spending time hiking in the Arizona desert and canoeing and taking boat rides with her family on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes in Minnesota. She was a sports enthusiast, and the rare person in her generation who was both a football club player and a cheerleader in college. She loved cheering on her favorite teams: Arizona and UConn basketball, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Gophers, Philadelphia Eagles and the Phillies. She had a passion for following her daughters’ field hockey careers, from middle school through college, as well as her children’s and grandchildren’s many sports teams.

The greatest joy in Betsy’s life was being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a mother to five children: Gary Simons (Kati) of Eden Prairie, Minn., Shannon Simons Danaher of Danbury, Clayton Simons (Jodi) of Monroe, Kathryn (Katie) Simons (Steve Carter) of Seattle, Wash., and Kristi Holmberg (Tim) of Bend, Ore. Betsy was a devoted grandmother to 13 children: Siri Simons (Kevin Krueger), Linnae Hoopes (Jeff), Grant Simons, Shaun, Erin, and Carson Danaher, Hailey and Lindsey Simons, Ella and Lily Carter, Josiah, Wyatt and Grady Holmberg; and great-grandmother to Liesl Krueger and Lylah Hoopes. Betsy is also survived by her two brothers, Robert (Bob) Templeton (Margie) of Los Angeles, Calif., and James (Jim) Templeton (Denise) of White Bear Lake, Minn.

A celebration of life will take place in Crosslake, Minn., in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Betsy’s memory to one of her favorite charities, Camp Knutson, 11148 Manhattan Point Boulevard, Crosslake MN 56442 or online at campknutson.org.