Betsy Ruth Losey, Hays
Betsy Ruth (Ellsaesser) Losey, 82, Hays, died Monday, October 23, 2023 at Homestead Assisted Living.
She was born June 22, 1941 in Liberal, Kansas, the daughter of Frank T. and Catherine Sarah (McCree) Ellsaesser.
She lived on the family farm north of Hugoton, Kansas until graduating from Hugoton High School and going to Fort Hays State College in Hays, Kansas.
She was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Hugoton, serving in leadership roles in the Methodist Youth Fellowship at the local and state levels. At the time of her death, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hays.
Betsy married William J. Losey on August 13, 1961 at the Wesley Foundation Chapel in Hays, and he preceded her in death on March 16, 2022.
She graduated from Fort Hays State with a BS in elementary education in 1970 and earned an MS in education in 1971. She was an elementary school librarian for USD 489 Hays from 1977 until 2001. She also served as an adjunct faculty for Fort Hays State University College of Education and for the School of Library and Information Management at Emporia State University. She was an active member of the American Association of School Librarians and the Kansas Association of School Librarians.
She was involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for the Wheatland District and Coronado Council, serving on many committees and in the training of leaders for the scouting program. She earned the Silver Beaver and the Wood Badge honors. Betsy enjoyed various crafts and cardmaking.
She is survived by her three children, Bill and Joyce Losey of Hugoton, Jim and Sandy Losey of Hays, and Rebecca Haury of Augusta, six grandchildren, Jennifer Whitmer (John), Amy Garza (Chris), Catherine Losey, Michael Losey (Amanda), Elizabeth Haury, and Steven Haury, six great grandchildren, Jason, Jade, Jacob, and Jana Whitmer, Greyson and Mojo Garza, her siblings, Bonnie Raff of Hope, AR, Barbara Miller of Boulder, CO, and Charles Ellsaesser of Bailey, CO.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband William.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 30, 2023 at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, with Rev. Delbert Stanton officiating. A private family inurnment will be in Fort Hays Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m until service time on Monday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested and payable to the USD 489 Foundation for the Roosevelt Elementary School Library or to the FHSU Foundation for the Forsyth Library.
Condolences and memories of Betsy may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com.