Betty W. Holland – February 13, 2022

Betty Sue Wright Holland, 92, a 53-year resident of Colorado Springs, peacefully went to be with “the good Lord” on Sunday, February 13, 2022, in a Minneapolis hospital.

Betty was born months before the Great Depression on May 7, 1929, in Ozark, Alabama, to the late James E. Z. and Odie T. (Newsome) Wright. She was the baby of the family as the fourth of four children. The family farmed in Echo, Alabama, until Betty was twelve when, due to World War II and farm challenges, her dad moved them to Springfield, Florida. She graduated from Bay County High School, Panama City, Florida, in 1947. She furthered her education with extension college courses from the University of Southern Colorado plus business courses offered by her employer.

Betty began working in high school at a dime store and, after graduation, for an insurance company. She was encouraged to take, and passed, the Civil Service exam. This began a career in the Civil Service working for the United States Air Force in Accounting and Finance from 1949-1970, transferring to the Civil Engineering Division from 1970-1979, beginning at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to Tyndall AFB, Florida; Langley AFB, Virginia; Chanute AFB, Illinois; USAF Finance Office in London, England; Otis AFB, Massachusetts; Maxwell AFB, Alabama; and retiring at Peterson AFB, Colorado.

As a member of various organizations, Betty gave of herself to volunteer service. In the Order of Eastern Star, Centennial #58 in Colorado Springs, she held various offices plus supported her daughters at Pikes Peak Assembly #4, International Order of Rainbow for Girls. Betty was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. She belonged to the Daughters of the Nile, Rahama Temple #71 and the Pikes Peak Club, Air Force Academy Civil Engineers Wives’ Club, and the Ent Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee. She was an active participant with her husband, Spencer, of the Korean War Veterans Association, temporarily filling various positions as needed.

Betty outlived her two husbands. She married USAF Sgt. Kenneth R. Timmons of Monticello, Illinois, in September, 1952, at Tyndall AFB. They raised three children for the next 25 years. Twice she was the sole strength of the family when Kenneth served a year in Korea and later in Vietnam. After his death in 1984, Betty married Spencer L. Holland of Anita, Iowa, in August, 1985, in Colorado Springs.  

Betty enjoyed traveling and took advantage of every opportunity. While living in England, she took a trip to Holland and to Germany. Her husband Kenneth’s R&R from Vietnam found them enjoying her first of many trips to Hawaii. The Ent Credit Union sent her to various places within the United States. After marrying Spencer, the two enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and overseas during their retirement years. Depending on the season, for many years they would fish for salmon in Alaska or enjoy fresh lobster in Maine or spend a month on Oahu, Hawaii. As each grandchild was born, Betty was there to hold those precious babies which took her back and forth across the United States. Betty and Spencer enjoyed seven trips to Denmark, some cruises, and other European or Asian destinations. They spoke fondly of their Korean trip. Both of Betty’s husbands were Korean War vets, but it was Spencer who was available and received the invitation from the South Koreans to return.

In addition to her parents, preceding Betty in death were her two sisters Omega Hughes and Oleta Yarbrough, her brother James, and her nephew Jack Wright; Kenneth R. Timmons, her husband of 25 years;, and Spencer L. Holland, her husband of 35 years.

Many family and friends will miss Betty. She would always remember their birthdays or anniversaries with a card. She is survived by her daughters Susan (Gary) Blessman, Tina Ruben, and her son Thomas (Sue) Timmons, grandchildren Jeremy Goebel, Thomas Jr. (Sharon), Kathryn (Dave) Lewis, Sarah, Lisa (Kevin) Chapman, Michael, Matthew, Andrew and Joseph Timmons; Stuart, Charles (Stephanie) and David (Amity) Blessman; and her wonderful great grandchildren: Kayla, Mackenzie, Kelsey, Emma, Sadie, Lillian, Grant, Connor, Kate, Verity, Mason, Sara, Amanda, Joshua.  Betty’s step-children are Cherisse (Jeffrey) Croll, Therese (Tom) Masters, and James (Karol) Holland.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Inurnment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado.

To quote Betty, “The thing of it is… life goes on.”