Elizabeth "Betsy" Martha (Miller) Blackmar

Elizabeth Martha “Betsy” (Miller) Blackmar, 80, of Baldwin City, KS passed away at home on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

She was born July 9, 1943 in Meadville, PA, the daughter of Hugh and Maria (Werner) Miller. She grew up in Meadville and graduated from Meadville High School with the class of 1961. She continued her education at Allegheny College in Meadville, graduating in 1965 with a degree in education. Betsy was a Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority member. Following graduation, she pursued graduate studies in education at Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA.

On August 20, 1966, Betsy was united in marriage to John Blackmar at Meadville Presbyterian Church. Following their marriage, Betsy and John moved to Los Angeles, CA where she taught elementary school in El Segundo. Due to John’s service in the United States Air Force, the couple moved to Lorton, Virginia in 1968 and Dayton, OH in 1973. John retired from active duty and the couple moved to Rochester, NY (1976), Ashburn, VA (1998), Monument, CO (2003) and to Baldwin City, KS in the summer of 2023.

Betsy’s kind and generous heart was filled with a passion for youth education and ministry. Following a short public education teaching career, she served over 25 years as a Director of Christian Education at John Knox Presbyterian Church (Greece, NY), Pittsford Presbyterian Church (Pittsford, NY), and the Leesburg Presbyterian Church (Leesburg, VA). Betsy and John served as youth ministry leaders while in California. In Monument, CO they sponsored Air Force Academy cadets providing support and a home away from home for 15 years.

Betsy and John shared a lot of love and many adventures throughout their fifty-seven years of marriage. They could be found traveling the United States, spending extended time in Sun City, AZ and Frisco, CO. Annual summer trips to Ann Arbor, MI to enjoy family on Strawberry Lake was filled with laughter and memories. A highlight included their 50th wedding celebration with family in Lake Geneva, WI. Holidays were spent with family spending copious amounts of time playing games. Christmases were filled with Betsy’s piano playing, singing carols and baking with her loved ones. Betsy and John traveled abroad visiting Iceland, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, France and Germany. They loved bicycling, pickleball, golfing, and cross country skiing together. Betsy was an avid book reader and participated in several book clubs. She enjoyed playing Mahjong and Bridge with friends. Betsy was committed to community service through participation in the Monument, CO Tri-Lakes Women’s Club.  

Betsy was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Maria Miller; her brother, Charles Miller; and her sister, Margaret (Mitzi) Groghan. Betsy is survived by her husband, John Blackmar, Baldwin City, KS; her daughter, Jeannette Blackmar (Jack Hofman), Baldwin City, KS; her son, Jeffrey Blackmar, Terre Haute, IN; her sister, Kathryn Heusinkveld (David Heusinkveld), Grayslake, IL; her sisters-in-law, Ann Martin-Fornaciari (Gill Fornaciari), Sun City, AZ; Mary Stevens (Emery Stevens), Houston, TX; and brother-in-law, Don Blackmar (Cindie Blackmar), Sun City, AZ. She enjoyed 20 years of love with her grandson, Jacob Hofman; step granddaughter, Jessica Hofman; and nieces and nephews. She was deeply loved and will be missed by all!

The family will hold a Celebration of Life on June 30, 2024, 11:30 am, at the Monument Community Presbyterian Church (Monument, CO). Inurnment at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO will occur at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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