Elizabeth Setzer

Teacher

Elizabeth Freeman Setzer, 96, of Golden, CO, died Friday, December 27, after a brief stay in hospice care. She was a resident at the Golden Pond Retirement Community.

Born in San Diego, Betty, as she was known to family and friends, spent her childhood in the California redwoods where her father operated the first camp in Richardson Grove. She graduated from Oakland High School, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California Berkeley and a master's from the University of Maryland. She was eager to serve her country during WWII, enlisting in the Navy as a WAVE. Betty achieved the rank of lieutenant and was stationed at Mare Island in Vallejo, CA, where she worked in the personnel office handling transportation and security.

After the war, Betty moved with her family to Washington, DC, where she worked at the FHA as an assistant librarian. She met her husband of 41 years, Henry (Hank) W. Setzer, who was curator of mammals at the Smithsonian Institution. They raised three daughters on a small farm in Germantown, MD. Betty taught fourth grade at Germantown Elementary for 20 years. She was a long-standing member of the Dolly Madison Chapter of the DAR.

Betty and Hank retired and divided their time between homes in Gainesville, FL, and Onancock, VA. After Hank's death, Betty moved to Arlington, VA and then to Golden, CO to be near her youngest daughter.

Betty was beloved and admired by all who knew her for her gracious and loving kindness. She took pleasure in the joys of nature, had a life-long interest in history and greeted every day as a wonderful new adventure. She took great pride in her Freeman family heritage; her grandfather, James M. Freeman, was a founder and mayor of Greeley, CO, as well as a Colorado state senator. First cousin Don Freeman was a noted artist and author and illustrator of children's books including "Corduroy."

Betty was predeceased by her beloved twin brother, Edwin R. Freeman, Jr. She leaves to cherish her memory her adored sister Dorothy Spencer of Stockton, CA and her three daughters; Suzanne Setzer of Sherborn, MA, Nancy Luria of Arlington, VA, and Lynn Filoreto of Golden, CO. She loved her nieces Roni Blackwood, Meg Body, Carol Koplin and nephew Bill Freeman and her four grandsons, Ian and Tommy Luria and Nick and Luke Filoreto. She considered Jane Comp, Daryl Costos, and Jennifer Boston her daughters and held a special place in her heart for Carl Filoreto, Terry Clifford, David Luria, and Jasper Filoreto. She was delighted to be a great-aunt to Brandon, Marshall and Harry.

Betty's family is grateful to the friends who were constant companions and sources of joy to Betty throughout her last months.

Donations may be made to causes close to her heart--the Old Growth Forest Network at www.oldgrowthforest.net or P.O. Box 21, Easton, MD 21601. Donations can also be made to Save the Redwoods League at www.savetheredwoods.org.

We invite you to share your memories of Betty in the Olinger Woods guest book at

dignitymemorial.com.

Services will be private.