MARTTHIESEN, Betty Harriet

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Sunday, March 9, 2003 Betty Harriet Severance Matthiesen, 79, passed away peacefully March 6, 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona. She was born on April 19, 1923 in Balaton, Minnesota, raised in Salem, South Dakota, and attended the University of South Dakota, where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and met her husband-to-be, Dr. Don E. Matthiesen. They were married in 1943. During WWII she served as a member of the Army Air Force Auxilliary in Philadelphia. They moved to Phoenix in 1955. She and her husband traveled extensively until his death in 1972. In the early 1950s they explored the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and returned to that country many times. In addition to freighter trips to Central America and raft trips down the Colorado River, she accompanied her husband on hiking and climbing expeditions around the world including Nepal, India, Switzerland, Austria, and the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. After her husband¹s death in 1972 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, she divided her time between her homes in Phoenix and Jackson Hole. An active member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Phoenix since 1955, she served for many years on the Altar Guild and worked for the church¹s "Red Door" thrift shop. She was also a parishioner of St. Johns Episcopal Church of Jackson, Wyoming. She will always be remembered for her good nature, sense of humor and love of life. A loving wife and mother, she is survived by her daughter Mary Lizabeth Matthiesen-Jones of Phoenix, sons, Bill Matthiesen of Lanesboro, Massachusetts and Rob Matthiesen of Scottsdale, grandson Darcy Nigel Matthiesen-Jones of Phoenix, her daughter-in-law Elizabeth Stell of Lanesboro and son-in-law Peter Jones of Phoenix. A memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, Phoenix, at 11am on Wednesday, March 19th. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 2222 South Dobson Road, Ste. 401, Mesa, AZ, or to the Salvation Army. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.