Betty Wyland

On September 27, 1938 our grandparents Zinnie Mae & Louis Webb of Pineville, Louisiana, celebrated the birth of our Mom, Betty Sue. She was the first of four children. She had three brothers, Dallas, Louis Jr., and Douglas. Over the years Mom told us funny stories of how she picked on them. That worked until they got bigger than her then they teased and tormented her. You know what they say about paybacks. To the end she hated lizards and snakes! At age 16 Mom met our dad, James Harold Wyland Jr. Dad was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Louisiana. Our dad spotted her twirling her skirt on the dance floor and it was love at first sight. They married a short time later. On February 10, 1957 I was born, Debra Denise (Dale) Stull, followed by Cindy Sue (Dave) Hansen, September 14, 1958, and Joni Ann Studzinski, June 5, 1961. Being a military family we moved around quite often. Joni Ann was born in England. She claimed her US citizenship at the age of 18. Mostly we were stationed in the U.S., Colorado, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Mom was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother. Joni gave Mom two grandchildren, Linzee and Zachary. She would give us the shirt off of her back if needed. Mom couldn’t keep us girls out of her shoe collection! She made sure that we were all safe, happy, and loved at all times. Mom and Dad’s love story was cut short after 25 years. Dad was diagnosed with Huntington’s and passed away in 1989. Mom was by his side to the end. Mom eventually sold her house and moved in with Cindy and Dave in the foothills of Golden. She decided to go with them when they moved to Oregon to help operate a KOA campground. Several years later she moved to Mesquite, NV where she would spend winter months and the summer months in Burlington Colorado with Debra and Dale. When Mom reached her 50’s and 60’s she called it her adventure years. There was nothing she would refuse to do with her children or friends. She hiked 14ers (above 14,000 feet), to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back out, the full length of the Narrows Canyon in the Virgin River, up to Angels Landing (twice), rafted on the perilous Clear Creek River through the Royal Gorge (the highest level of passenger rafting allowed), visited most western national parks including Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park. During her lifetime Mom battled cancer three times. In 1970 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and given a 40% chance. She beat the odds. That diagnosis would forever shape Mom’s outlook and she would not take life for granted. She began a healthy active life, hiking, biking, fishing, camping, and running. Diagnosed in 2010 with lung cancer, she did her usual kicking back. Even though she insisted on buying the turkey and help plan the meal, her battle would be lost just days before Thanksgiving, November 24, 2013. We will thank God for having her and enjoy Thanksgiving celebrating her life.