Kathleen Hampton Betancur, is survived by: husband Robert Betancur, step son John Betancur, niece Esperanza Ruiz, grand-nephew Christopher Ruiz, mother Ruth Benya Hampton, sisters Sylvia Rappenecker and Linda Braddy, brother Leonard Hampton, many other loving family members and friends. She passed quietly at her home in Morrill, Nebraska surrounded by her immediate family.
Kathleen graduated from Castle Rock High School in Douglas County, Colorado and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley with a master's degree. She volunteered in the Peace Corps, two consecutive times, to work with youth and the disabled in Kenya, South Africa, and was recognized for her exceptional accomplishments there. She later returned to Denver, Colorado to work with mentally and physically challenged students in the inner city. She would finally relocate to Morrill, Nebraska with her husband Bob and family. Bob originally grew up and still had many family and friends in the Morrill area.
Kathleen fell ill with terminal cancer but her resilient spirit shone through. She had a burning desire to live through Christmas with her family so that they would not feel her loss during Christmas seasons ahead, but would remember instead her loving devotion and fierce goal-oriented determination. She fought off death, literally, to achieve this one last goal; and passed into eternity on New Years' Day, 2016, at the young age of 60.
She was a very loving mother and Grandmother for Esperanza and Christopher, helping both of them become strong, productive, independent and loving people much like herself. She was the consummate teacher, and helped countless children and adults achieve a higher level of ability and independence through education, rehabilitation and occupational therapy in Kenya, Africa, Texas, Colorado and Nebraska, and was honored to be listed in "Who's Who in American Women".
Kathleen was always thinking of and helping others in any way possible, and would have it no other way. If I could find one comparison in nature to her it would be the strong yet nurturing matriarchal elephant- her heart and courage were that big. The immensely powerful matriarchal elephant takes care of her beloved herd and protects them from everything, putting all the others first, even until death. Kathy will be dearly missed by all and it will take time for us to recover from her sudden tragic loss. I for one thought she could win the battle with cancer. She had battled such high odds so many times before, and won.
We love you Kathleen. You meant the world to us; you will always be in our hearts and memories with loving fondness for all the good -and the hard- times. You made a positive difference to many lives, including mine. You were a very good, loving person that made an important, meaningful impact on the lives of many hundreds of others, and excelled in everything you took on, and for that you can rest in peace my dear sister in law, rest in peace.
Kathleen graduated from Castle Rock High School in Douglas County, Colorado and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley with a master's degree. She volunteered in the Peace Corps, two consecutive times, to work with youth and the disabled in Kenya, South Africa, and was recognized for her exceptional accomplishments there. She later returned to Denver, Colorado to work with mentally and physically challenged students in the inner city. She would finally relocate to Morrill, Nebraska with her husband Bob and family. Bob originally grew up and still had many family and friends in the Morrill area.
Kathleen fell ill with terminal cancer but her resilient spirit shone through. She had a burning desire to live through Christmas with her family so that they would not feel her loss during Christmas seasons ahead, but would remember instead her loving devotion and fierce goal-oriented determination. She fought off death, literally, to achieve this one last goal; and passed into eternity on New Years' Day, 2016, at the young age of 60.
She was a very loving mother and Grandmother for Esperanza and Christopher, helping both of them become strong, productive, independent and loving people much like herself. She was the consummate teacher, and helped countless children and adults achieve a higher level of ability and independence through education, rehabilitation and occupational therapy in Kenya, Africa, Texas, Colorado and Nebraska, and was honored to be listed in "Who's Who in American Women".
Kathleen was always thinking of and helping others in any way possible, and would have it no other way. If I could find one comparison in nature to her it would be the strong yet nurturing matriarchal elephant- her heart and courage were that big. The immensely powerful matriarchal elephant takes care of her beloved herd and protects them from everything, putting all the others first, even until death. Kathy will be dearly missed by all and it will take time for us to recover from her sudden tragic loss. I for one thought she could win the battle with cancer. She had battled such high odds so many times before, and won.
We love you Kathleen. You meant the world to us; you will always be in our hearts and memories with loving fondness for all the good -and the hard- times. You made a positive difference to many lives, including mine. You were a very good, loving person that made an important, meaningful impact on the lives of many hundreds of others, and excelled in everything you took on, and for that you can rest in peace my dear sister in law, rest in peace.
Kathleen Hampton Betancur, is survived by: husband Robert Betancur, step son John Betancur, niece Esperanza Ruiz, grand-nephew Christopher Ruiz, mother Ruth Benya Hampton, sisters Sylvia Rappenecker and Linda Braddy, brother Leonard Hampton, many other loving family members and friends. She passed quietly at her home in Morrill, Nebraska surrounded by her immediate family.
Kathleen graduated from Castle Rock High School in Douglas County, Colorado and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley with a master's degree. She volunteered in the Peace Corps, two consecutive times, to work with youth and the disabled in Kenya, South Africa, and was recognized for her exceptional accomplishments there. She later returned to Denver, Colorado to work with mentally and physically challenged students in the inner city. She would finally relocate to Morrill, Nebraska with her husband Bob and family. Bob originally grew up and still had many family and friends in the Morrill area.
Kathleen fell ill with terminal cancer but her resilient spirit shone through. She had a burning desire to live through Christmas with her family so that they would not feel her loss during Christmas seasons ahead, but would remember instead her loving devotion and fierce goal-oriented determination. She fought off death, literally, to achieve this one last goal; and passed into eternity on New Years' Day, 2016, at the young age of 60.
She was a very loving mother and Grandmother for Esperanza and Christopher, helping both of them become strong, productive, independent and loving people much like herself. She was the consummate teacher, and helped countless children and adults achieve a higher level of ability and independence through education, rehabilitation and occupational therapy in Kenya, Africa, Texas, Colorado and Nebraska, and was honored to be listed in "Who's Who in American Women".
Kathleen was always thinking of and helping others in any way possible, and would have it no other way. If I could find one comparison in nature to her it would be the strong yet nurturing matriarchal elephant- her heart and courage were that big. The immensely powerful matriarchal elephant takes care of her beloved herd and protects them from everything, putting all the others first, even until death. Kathy will be dearly missed by all and it will take time for us to recover from her sudden tragic loss. I for one thought she could win the battle with cancer. She had battled such high odds so many times before, and won.
We love you Kathleen. You meant the world to us; you will always be in our hearts and memories with loving fondness for all the good -and the hard- times. You made a positive difference to many lives, including mine. You were a very good, loving person that made an important, meaningful impact on the lives of many hundreds of others, and excelled in everything you took on, and for that you can rest in peace my dear sister in law, rest in peace.
Kathleen graduated from Castle Rock High School in Douglas County, Colorado and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley with a master's degree. She volunteered in the Peace Corps, two consecutive times, to work with youth and the disabled in Kenya, South Africa, and was recognized for her exceptional accomplishments there. She later returned to Denver, Colorado to work with mentally and physically challenged students in the inner city. She would finally relocate to Morrill, Nebraska with her husband Bob and family. Bob originally grew up and still had many family and friends in the Morrill area.
Kathleen fell ill with terminal cancer but her resilient spirit shone through. She had a burning desire to live through Christmas with her family so that they would not feel her loss during Christmas seasons ahead, but would remember instead her loving devotion and fierce goal-oriented determination. She fought off death, literally, to achieve this one last goal; and passed into eternity on New Years' Day, 2016, at the young age of 60.
She was a very loving mother and Grandmother for Esperanza and Christopher, helping both of them become strong, productive, independent and loving people much like herself. She was the consummate teacher, and helped countless children and adults achieve a higher level of ability and independence through education, rehabilitation and occupational therapy in Kenya, Africa, Texas, Colorado and Nebraska, and was honored to be listed in "Who's Who in American Women".
Kathleen was always thinking of and helping others in any way possible, and would have it no other way. If I could find one comparison in nature to her it would be the strong yet nurturing matriarchal elephant- her heart and courage were that big. The immensely powerful matriarchal elephant takes care of her beloved herd and protects them from everything, putting all the others first, even until death. Kathy will be dearly missed by all and it will take time for us to recover from her sudden tragic loss. I for one thought she could win the battle with cancer. She had battled such high odds so many times before, and won.
We love you Kathleen. You meant the world to us; you will always be in our hearts and memories with loving fondness for all the good -and the hard- times. You made a positive difference to many lives, including mine. You were a very good, loving person that made an important, meaningful impact on the lives of many hundreds of others, and excelled in everything you took on, and for that you can rest in peace my dear sister in law, rest in peace.
