Elizabeth Terese (“Betty”) Luther, 88, of Cary, NC passed into the kingdom of heaven on February 12, 2020. Betty was born on January 31, 1932 in St. Paul, MN to the late Dr. Elmer Stemper and the late Emelia Schatz Stemper. She was the second youngest of eight children, six girls and two boys.
Betty studied Nursing at the University of Minnesota and was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. In 1952 she was nominated by the University of Minnesota School of Engineering and she won the title of Queen Colleen. In 1954, Betty graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Nursing.
On January 18, 1958 she married the late William Martin Luther (Bill) and they raised four children. They had four dogs; two cocker spaniels, a shepherd collie mix and a black lab. Betty loved to share stories about living in Hawaii with her husband Bill and three small children; their youngest child was born after they left Hawaii.
Betty enjoyed nursing and while raising her family, she worked as a School Nurse in the public and private schools. She later become the Director of Public-School Nurses in Stamford, CT, a position that she held for many years. She continued to pursue her education and by 1990 she had earned the following; a Master of Public Administration (MPA), RN, BSN, CSN, CHES, and NHA.
Betty was a sports enthusiast and a great athlete. Her favorite sports were golf and tennis. She played in golf and tennis leagues with her husband for more than thirty years. In addition, she skied, water skied(slalom), skated, swam laps, line danced and was a gym enthusiast. Betty skied and water skied until she was close to seventy years old. She encouraged us to spend our free time outside, only to return home for dinner. In the summers we helped her with her garden and in the winters, we built an ice-skating rink together in our front yard. Many of our family vacations were spent at the lake or at a ski resort; and they were always the highlight of the year!
Betty encouraged her children to be active in sports, volunteer and play musical instruments such as the flute, piano and violin. In her free time, she could be found watching her children as they participated in a variety of sports; baseball, basketball, cheerleading, dance, football, softball, tennis, track, volleyball and much more.
Our home was always filled with love, laughter and songs from the Big Band Era. The record player was stacked with their favorite albums and music filled our home day and night. I remember falling to sleep to family favorites such as Unforgettable, Love and Mona Lisa by Nat King Cole. We frequently watched in awe as Betty and Bill danced to some of their favorite songs such as, In the Mood by Glenn Miller.
An avid reader, Betty knew something about every topic; two newspapers, talk radio and a cup of coffee were her daily ritual. Betty loved the great outdoors and one of her passions was oil painting; her expressions of art were beautiful. She was actively involved in philanthropy. Betty enjoyed volunteering as a Red Cross Emergency Volunteer, an Alpha Omicron Pi Alumni Volunteer and she helped organize many of the annual all-day picnics with her husband. Betty was a member of the Red Hat Society, attended monthly luncheons, neighborhood get-togethers and Bunco Night with the ladies.
Betty was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was best known for her friendship, strong leadership and poise, sense of humor, compassion for others and her positive outlook on life. More than anything, she loved her family, friends, god and her country. Her grandchildren meant the world to her. Betty had a deep belief in God and her faith was part of her daily life.
Betty welcomed every day with elegance and a zest for life. She was incredibly strong and she “Never Gave Up”. She encouraged others to do the same. Betty was an amazing mother and an inspiration to all of us. She’ll always be remembered for her love, compassion and support and she’ll be deeply missed by her family and friends.
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine warm upon your face. May the rains fall upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. We love you mom; your memory and love will live in our hearts forever!
Along with her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, William Martin Luther (Bill), her son, Michael, her sisters, Meg, Mel, Carol, and Lee, her brothers John, Elmer and his son Gregory.
She is survived by her sister Jeanne Schumacher of CA, her daughters Jeannie and her husband Gary Fraser of CO, Susan and her husband Greg Rothermich of MA and Ann Leuth of NC, ten grandchildren, Kelly, Jim and Don Fraser, Lauren, Brian, Kevin and Justin Rothermich and Brittany, Nicole and Briana Leuth and fifteen nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). Condolences may be sent to the family through www.brownwynnecary.com.
Due to COVID-19 concerns and mandates, services have been postponed.
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