Our beloved Betty “Betsy” Ross, 93, passed into her eternal home on August 18, 2016. She was born on May 25, 1923 in Galesburg, Illinois to the late Thomas and Florence (Bender) Hand. Betsy graduated from Galesburg High School in 1941 and then from Theology Seminary in Des Moines, Iowa in 1945. She was a retired operations officer for Central Bank of Colorado Springs.
Betsy married the love of her life, Ralph Ross in 1946. Together they celebrated 62 years together. Their loving marriage was an inspiration to all. She was a kind, loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed.
Betsy accompanied her husband during his Air Force career and the pair traveled extensively within the United States, South America and Paris. She volunteered her time to missionary work in South America along with church and chapel activities at different military bases. She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church and Daughters of the Nile.
Betsy is survived by her five grandchildren: Tammy Nixon, Christopher Cook and David, Brad and Wendy Allaband. She is also survived by fourteen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; two precious daughters: Linda Anne Cook and Rosalie Jean Allaband; her twin brother, Burton; brothers: Dale, Bill and LeRoy as well as her sisters: Florence Newberg, Mary Jane White, Doris Patterson and Barbara Jean Moore.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church, 219 East Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. A committal service and Daughters of the Nile presentation will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church.