Betty Cecilia Branson

A Celebration of Life for Betty will be held Saturday, May 14, 2022, 2:00pm at Lakeshore Mortuary 1815 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, AZ 85202.

Betty was born on July 26, 1957 in Pocatello, Idaho to Marie and Theo Earl Branson. She grew up in a large family. She was the 5th of six children. As a child Betty loved spending time with her father fishing, watching college football and working together on the family farm. She attended Pocatello High School, graduating in 1975. After high school she stayed in Pocatello for a short time until she met Douglas Jezek and married. Together they moved to a sheep farm in Wyoming where she worked as the ranch cook. There Betty gave birth to her 1st son, Kevin Earl Jezek. Sadly, Betty and Douglas divorced and she and Kevin moved back to Pocatello near her sisters and mother. Betty eventually met her next husband, Craig Carlsen, and gave birth to her 2nd son, Erik Christian Carlsen. She had a thirst for knowledge so it wasn’t long after the birth of Erik that she decided to seek out higher education attending Idaho State University. While attending college Betty achieved high honors for her mathematical skills and went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Engineering as well as an Engineer in Training Certificate in 1990. Betty was very proud of this achievement as were her family and friends. Betty and Craig eventually divorced. She then began a career that would allow her and her children to live in comfort until the day she passed. The first job she added to her list was at the Argonne National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho. There she oversaw the construction of a nuclear waste processing facility. After a while Betty’s ambition took over again and she found a better opportunity with Kiewit Construction Company handling the orders for the construction of another nuclear waste facility. When Betty felt she had reached her potential with Kiewit she found another opportunity and moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1998. This time helping to develop a Construction Division for Day and Zimmerman Microelectronics. Betty then moved on to a few other construction companies before finally settling down with Agate Inc. in Scottsdale Arizona in 2005. During this time Betty developed a love for travelling and this job allowed her to live in many different places across the United States. Betty retired in 2015 to spend time with her grandchildren and family. During her time in Arizona Betty made many friends and formed strong bonds with people that lasted until the day of her death. Among the most cherished was her “Unbiological Sister” Lisa Evans and a young man named Erik Curiel who she quickly formed a mother & son type relationship with. Her thirst for knowledge never left her and she began attending various courses at Mesa Community College during her retirement. She spent the last few years of her life seeking knowledge and sharing it as often as possible. Betty loved her friends and family greatly and can rest easily knowing the lessons and memories created with them will be cherished long after she is gone.

Betty is survived by her brothers Bill and George Branson and sisters Kay Austin and Lisa Evans, son Erik (Sarah) Carlsen, daughter-in-law Angela Sorenson, adopted son Erik (Guadalupe) Curiel and Grandchildren: Aurora Wilton, Donovan Dunn, and Neva Miller.

Predeceased by mother and father Marie and Theo Branson, sisters Julia Ann Branson and Kandi Sistrunk, son Kevin Earl Jezek.