Betsy Stegeman Obituary

Stegeman

Betsy (Slothower) Stegeman

June 12, 1946

February 6, 2022



Elizabeth Slothower Stegeman, known as Betsy, passed away battling several medical conditions on February 6, 2022. She was one of the kindest, strongest and smartest women you could hope to know, and she was so deeply loved by her family.



Betsy was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and grew up in Broadmoor, in the shadow of Pike's Peak and Cheyenne Mountain. She was the daughter of Louis Cleland Slothower, Jr. and Salle Edwards Slothower. Her family roots were deep in the Midwest, Texas, and Colorado, including the gold town of Cripple Creek.



Betsy's education began in the Cheyenne Mountain schools. She then graduated from the Katherine Branson School in Marin County, California, and from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, with a degree in English and Russian Literature. It was there that she and her husband John Stegeman fell in love, while they were working side-by-side organizing "Project Survival", the first major environmental event in the country, before Earth Day. Betsy and John were married for 51 years, and 50 years ago moved to Falmouth and Woods Hole, Massachusetts.



Betsy began working as a travel agent at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs while in high school. She continued as a travel agent after moving to Falmouth, where she excelled, first with Commonwealth Travel, then for many years as partner and co-owner of Church Travel of Falmouth. Most recently she was a partner with the Travel Source. She loved finding just the right trips for people, and was unparalleled in helping people with complicated travel, which she did for many scientists in Woods Hole. She was the "go to" agent for many Directors of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.



Travel and airplanes were a big part of Betsy's life. She was adventuresome, not only earning a pilot's license, but also skydiving. She simply loved traveling; her favorite places included London (35 times), Provence, Russia, Africa, Israel, and Jordan. She loved arranging trips with family and friends, including a famous trip with sister and sisters-in-law to Europe, many family trips to her Colorado mountains, and taking her children around the U.S. and abroad, to widen their world view. She and John loved traveling together. She was, as a sister-in-law said, a "memory maker".



Betsy was an inveterate reader, and loved giving books as gifts. She was a dedicated knitter, making hats and dolls for great nieces and nephews. She knitted countless winter hats during the Covid pandemic, which she donated to the East Falmouth School, the Falmouth Service Center, and the police department. Many were touched by her thoughtful and frequent greeting cards.



A bridge devotee for many years, 15 years ago Betsy took up duplicate bridge in earnest, with several favorite partners from Falmouth. She was delighted to earn the rank of Life Master. She was an enthusiastic gardener, and she was always eager for spring, so she could get her hands in the dirt and encourage the flowers. She was an unwavering Red Sox fan. Betsy was a superb cook, and loved cooking for many visitors from around the world who came to her husband's lab in Woods Hole, and especially for her family; she made life wonderful for them.



Betsy bore incredible difficulties with extraordinary grace and strength, always with a smile, and absolutely never a complaint, from overcoming leukemia 37 years ago to her many recent health issues. She was kind and generous, humble, unassuming and quiet, and always cheerful. All who came to know her loved her greatly, touched by her kindness and beautiful smile. She was a perfect wife and mother and truly an ideal partner for John, who along with their children and grandson, cherished everything about her.



Betsy was preceded in death by her parents, and by her twin brother, John Eugene Slothower, whom she loved fiercely. She is survived by her husband John, her children Peter Stegeman, Susan Stegeman, and Joseph Stegeman, her grandson Bodhi James Talbot, all of Falmouth, her sister Salle Hill Howes and her brother Peter Slothower, both of Colorado Springs, as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends.



The family suggests that any wishing to make donations in her name consider the Leukemia Society of America, or the Falmouth Service Center, Falmouth, MA.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, February 20, 2022, from 1:00-3:00 PM at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, 475 Main Street, Falmouth, MA.