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Betsy Lee Davenport, 70, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 29, in Phoenix, Ariz.
The daughter of George and Helen Davenport, Betsy was born July 23, 1954, at BV County Hospital in Storm Lake. She attended West School and graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1972. During her high school years she sang with the choir and with several small choral groups. She also played the flute in the high school band. An avid theater fan, she always either had a part in the school plays or worked behind the scenes. That passion for live theater continued to the end of her life. She was also an active member of Lakeside Presbyterian Church and Rainbow.
Betsy earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Iowa, receiving a master’s degree in education with a focus on children with learning disabilities. Her first teaching years took her to Iowa’s Cedar Creek school district and then to Ballard school in Huxley. After several years in Iowa, Betsy headed to the Southwest and brought her expert teaching talents to several schools in Phoenix, including: Mountain Sky, Arroyo, Tumbleweed and Richard E. Miller. Betsy thrived as an educator and was beloved by students and teachers. With her huge heart and keen skill set we figure over her 34-year career, she influenced the lives of more than 1,800 children with learning disabilities — children who might otherwise have fallen through the cracks. No one cared more about “her kids” than Betsy. She was also active in supporting extra-curricular activities, coaching cheerleading, helping kids prepare for speech contest and especially helping with student theater.
Betsy married Bryan Ellis in June 1990 and the two settled into their life in sunny Arizona, sharing their home with an assortment of Shih Tzus and rescue cats over the years. Though both were born Midwesterners, Arizona suited them and they spent days by their pool, evenings at the theater and at outdoor concerts, and afternoons at art festivals around Arizona. Betsy also loved the horse races and could be found on many a weekend day at Turf Paradise racetrack successfully picking a winner or two!
Betsy’s smile, sense of humor, caring spirit and love of life will be missed by her family and the many friends, students and teachers whose lives she touched.
She is survived by her husband Bryan Ellis of Phoenix, Ariz.; her sister Sheri of Oakland, Calif.; brother Steven from San Francisco, Calif.; and a number of cousins and good friends.
Betsy was preceded in death by her father George Davenport; her mother Helen Davenport; and her brother Michael.
A celebration of life to honor Betsy will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, 12861 N. 8th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85029.
