Betsy Williford Obituary

Betsy Lynn Williford, 1979-2025

Betsy Lynn Williford, our dedicated mother and wife, loving friend and daughter, fierce dreamer and instigator of outdoor adventures, died on July 22, 2025, after a 20-month battle with brain cancer. She was 46 years old.

Betsy was born April 5, 1979, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her boundless curiosity and love for the Earth inspired her to earn a degree in geology from Ball State University in 2001. She continued working for an environmental cleanup company in Indiana, traveling throughout the region and overseeing large projects.

She met her husband, Josh, during a "Cocktail Cove" outing on Geist Reservoir in Indianapolis. The group tied all of their boats together. When Josh noticed Betsy on an adjacent boat, he knew he had to make his way over to meet her. They hit it off by discussing which was better - wakeboarding or snowboarding. Josh thought wakeboarding was more fun, while Betsy preferred mountains and snow.

They moved to Colorado in 2011 and were married on March 1, 2013, at the top of Vail Ski Resort. More than 60 people attended the snowy outdoor ceremony. Afterward, they strapped on snowboards and rode through 14" of fresh powder down the mountain.

Betsy and Josh have two children: a daughter, Aven, born in 2012, and a son, Jacob, born in 2015. When Jacob was born with Down syndrome, Betsy decided to leave her career as a geologist so she could provide the extra care he'd need to thrive. Betsy was a doting mother and could be a fearsome mama bear. She could always tell when Jacob needed special attention. She loved spending time outdoors with Josh and her children, riding bikes with Jacob, and climbing with Aven.

Nature was also a source of creative inspiration. Betsy was a talented writer, crafter, and watercolorist. She loved telling stories about her adventures through essays and paintings. Her blog connected her with like-minded people from all over the world.

Betsy was an adventurer and a dreamer, and always searched for new ways to explore the world. She loved everything about the outdoors: oceans, lakes, mountains, deserts, canyons. She was a surfer, snowboarder, rock climber, packrafter, hiker, snowshoer, swimmer, and cyclist with a particular affinity for fat bikes. She enjoyed bikepacking and completed long-distance trips in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and even snow-bound Alaska. She had a zeal for racing and competed in several fat bike and endurance bikepacking races. She also loved traveling with her family in the Colorado mountains and far-flung places that spoke to her soul: Hawaii and Alaska.

Betsy was still climbing difficult routes just days before strange balance issues prompted a visit to the emergency room in November 2023. A scan revealed a grade 4 glioblastoma. She knew from day one there would be no cure for this aggressive brain tumor, and she understood her time on Earth would be cruelly cut short. She faced this reality with bravery and determination, and resolved to live each remaining day to the fullest. Even as the cancer caused debilitating symptoms and the treatments left her weakened, she battled to spend more quality days with her family and continued to explore the outdoors. As her pain and fatigue deepened, her faith continued to grow. Even though she didn't always understand God's plan for her, she remained faithful and expressed gratitude for her blessings.

In June, she embarked on her last outdoor adventure in Alaska, where she went boating in Prince William Sound with several friends. They caught fish, camped, and paddled in bays surrounded by glaciers. She even attempted one last gravel bike race despite being cautioned against this by worried friends. Betsy was never one to let perceived limitations get in the way of a good adventure. She has now gone on to her greatest adventure. Although we will miss Betsy deeply, we're grateful she's happy and free in the arms of her Lord.

Betsy is survived by her husband, Josh, children, Aven and Jacob, mother, Sue Lautzenheiser Carter, and brother, Eddie Carter. She is preceded in death by her grandparents.

A celebration of life service will be held Sunday, August 3, at Storyline Church, 14605 W. 64th Avenue, in Arvada, Colorado. All family and friends are invited to join and share in Betsy's adventurous life. The family requests that attendees dress in their favorite outdoor gear, which is what Betsy would have preferred. Instead of flowers or donations, the family asks for a simple request from Betsy: That you and your family spend one day in nature. No e-mails, no social media, no news. Just breathe the fresh air, listen to birds sing, touch the leaves on a tree, and take in the wonder of God's glory. If everyone could do this more often, Betsy was certain, the world would be a better place.