Elizabeth "Bets" Sparn, the seventh of eight children and the last to survive, was born on November 22, 1924, on her parents' farm in Kimball, Nebraska. Her parents, Etta Mae Lathrop and Edwin Andrew Bergman, farmed wheat in three different counties until the drought and subsequent Dust Bowl eventually forced them to abandon farming.
During their time on the homestead, Bets contracted polio and spent the next two years at Children's Hospital in Denver, where she learned to walk again through pool treatments. However, she never regained full strength in her left arm and hand.
After returning home, her mother's foresight coupled with the Dust Bowl, led them to move to Boulder, Colorado, where Bets attended Boulder High School and the University of Colorado. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and served as its president during her senior year. Bets taught school in Boulder for a year before moving to Long Beach, CA, where she met and married Earl Hall.
After the birth of their first son, Tom, Bets and Earl returned to Boulder, welcoming Dick, Liz, and Amy to complete their family. In 1960 they settled in Grand Junction, where Bets resumed teaching at Broadway School for seven years and Pomona for thirteen. Her children and family meant everything to her.
In 1981, Bets married Ted Sparn, and they enjoyed many years together. She is survived by her children Tom (Cathy) Hall, Dick (Marilyn) Hall, Liz (Jay Stevens) Hall and Amy (Dave) Peck; her grandchildren Matt Hall, Dustin Hall-Stevens, Nicole Düster, Taylor Peck and Katie Peck; her step-children Joe (Sandy) Sparn, Judy (Matt) Norman and Tom (Debra) Sparn. Other survivors include her dear niece Jan McCarty, and her husband Rande Smith.
Bets wanted to extend her gratitude to Marilyn and Dick, who provided care for her for a number of years. Bets bequeathed her body to the Colorado State Anatomical Board, University of Colorado School of Medicine for use in medical science and education.
The family will hold a private celebration of her life in the near future. In lieu of flowers, we kindly request that donations be made to honor her teaching career. Contributions can be sent to the D51 Foundation at 2115 Grand Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501. Donations can also be made online by visiting the D51 Foundation website at www.d51foundation.org.
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