Elizabeth "Betty" Theis

Our beloved Elizabeth “Betty” Theis passed away among family on January 13, 2023, at MorningStar Senior Living in Lone Tree, Colorado. She was 90.

Betty was born December 29, 1932, to Marie and Charles Meier in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She grew up on her parent’s rambling farm surrounded by cows, horses, chickens, love, and the laughter that only a family of seven German-Irish siblings can provide.

Betty left home to attend St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in home economics. And, importantly, it was during this time that Betty met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Theis. It was a blind date and Betty found Dick to be “quite handsome”— a sentiment she was still repeating 68 years later.

The two were married on July 9, 1955, in Karlsruhe, Germany, where Dick was stationed as a U.S. Army lieutenant. They welcomed their first child, Mary Kay, in 1957. The young family returned to the United States and settled in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where they added four more children, Richard “Rick,” Karl, Jane, and Christopher.

In 1969 the family moved to Littleton, Colorado, where Betty kept a thoughtfully decorated, happy home. In addition to raising five near-perfect children, Betty took on occasional work as a cake decorator, a pre-school teacher, and in later years as an office assistant at Dain Bosworth and a consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Betty and Dick spent their retirement entertaining a passel of seven grandchildren and traveling the world. Betty was deeply involved with her church, was an avid bridge player, and enjoyed water aerobics. She hosted wonderful parties including Christmas Eve gatherings that are treasured memories for her entire family.

Betty was predeceased by son Rick Theis, sister Monica McDaniel, brothers Jack Meier and Leo Meier, and son-in-law Brett Ericson. She is survived by spouse Richard Theis, sisters Rita Draeger and Mary Bick, brother Bob Meier, daughters Mary Kay Theis and Jane Ericson, daughter-in-law Ellen Theis, and sons Karl (Kristi) Theis and Christopher (Michelle) Theis. She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren, Brook, Rachel, Joseph, Anna (Alex), Elizabeth, Benjamin, and Thomas, and her many adored nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass for Betty will be celebrated on March 25, 2023, at 11 a.m. at All Souls Catholic Church, 4950 S. Logan St., Englewood, Colorado, 80113. It will be preceded by a rosary service at 10 a.m. and followed by a reception. Committal of ashes will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Souls Catholic Church.

Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and very dear. – An Irish Toast