Elizabeth Bunnell Behrenhausen passed away peacefully in her sleep after a lengthy illness on October 8, 2023. Betsy was born on May 29, 1940 to William and Lolita Bunnell in Reading, Pennsylvania. She was married to her loving husband, General Richard Behrenhausen, for 62 years.
Betsy was a loving, nurturing mother who was for 30 years the architect, engineer and rock of an Army family which was always, seemingly, on the move. Despite an incredible 23 family relocations across 12 states and three foreign countries, Betsy remained the family cheerleader. She particularly enjoyed overseas living in Camberley, England and Verona, Italy. Along the way she raised three wonderful children, Beth (Steve Weber), Kathy (Lance Thompson) and Mike (Erin Enwall). Upon completion at Fort Bliss of their Army life, Betsy and Dick moved to Chicago to begin what she called their civilian life. From her new home in the Chicago suburbs, she enjoyed all that the city offered - arts, culture, entertainment, sports. She made many new friends and was an avid member of the local gardening club. After more than a decade in the Windy City she returned to El Paso and a very happy retirement life. She then watched with pride as the family grew to include six grandchildren - Lindsay, Sara, Matthew, Madeleine, Ben and Noah and four great grandchildren - Eric, Tommy, Malcolm and Beth.
Those who knew betsy knew her as a sweet, loving person who always had an encouraging word and a smile. She was, indeed, always a cheerleader - in junior high school, where she first met her husband to be, in high school at Bucknell University. She loved college life and was a proud member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She remained a lifetime student always seeking to improve herself. Betsy was an avid reader with a particular interest in history. Although she seldom mentioned it, she was very proud of her own family history which included direct descendance from the Mayflower, significant involvement in the American Revolution and the opening of the west.
Betsy always lived the old Army adage- "Bloom where you are planted". She made lifelong friends around the world, loved living, loved her family, loved her dogs, loved gardening and, most of all, loved her husband. No one could have asked for more.
The family is most appreciative of those who helped Betsy though her transition. Our thanks and gratitude go out to Dr. Max Peralta; the excellent hospice nurses of the Good Samaritan Society and the exceptional, compassionate care givers Teresa Diaz and Pedro Valverde at their Loving Home Foster Care facility.
Visitation will be held Friday, October 27, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with Funeral Service to commence at 6:00 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, Texas 79912.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the Behrenhausen family.
