Elizabeth Jane (Steffes) Ebersole

November 23, 1928 - May 3, 2024

Born November 23, 1928 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Betty passed away peacefully on May 3, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Betty was the only child of Helen and James Edmundson. They adored her curiosity and interest in people. Along with her parents, Betty had her grandparents, aunts and uncles in St. Paul, who spent Saturdays and Sundays with her on picnics, telling stories and teaching her card games. She and Helen frequently took the Burlington Northern Zephyr to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to visit with her mother's large family.

Betty grew up in St. Paul, finding an early interest in tap dancing and listening to music. Her mother made all of her costumes and both parents were at every dance recital. She attended St. Catherine University and then worked for Northwest Airlines. On June 20, 1953, she married Donald Steffes, who also grew up in St. Paul. Betty and Don had four children, a daughter and three sons, beginning in 1954. During this time they lived briefly in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, before buying a house in St. Louis Park in Minneapolis. When Don was transferred to Denver, Colorado, by the Hartford Insurance Company in 1959, they headed west and settled there for the next eighteen years.

Raising healthy and happy children was Betty's priority. She made sure to find the right Girl Scout Troop, piano and clarinet teachers, Catholic Youth Organization baseball teams, schools and pediatricians and coaches for her four children. Betty was active in Notre Dame Parish in Denver and made sure her children participated in catechism classes. She was friendly with neighbors and made lasting friendships with them. She and Don hosted frequent business and neighborhood gatherings in Denver. When all of her children were older, she taught dance lessons at a popular studio and later worked for Baldwin Pianos. She and Don moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1975.

Betty married Jim Ebersole in 1983 and they had happy years living in Alabama and Florida before returning to the area where Jim grew up near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They enjoyed cruises, entertaining friends and being with family.

Betty was so proud of her grandchildren. She loved knowing about their latest adventures, and cheered on their accomplishments. She believed she was blessed to have her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and could not ask for more than their health and well being.Betty is survived by her sons, Paul Steffes (Mary Jo) and Robert Steffes, and her daughter Barbara Soisson (John). Surviving grandchildren include Peter and Annie Soisson; Michael (Colleen), Ryan and David Steffes, and Meaghan Quigley. Her great grandchildren are Charles and Theodore Steffes. Betty was predeceased by her husband Donald Steffes, her husband Jim Ebersole and her son, Gregory Steffes.

There will be a funeral Mass for Betty at 11:00 on June 8 at Mary Mother of the Church in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.