6/10/2024
Betty went home to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on June 10, 2024. She was a beloved wife, mom, grandma, sister and friend. Her family and loved ones are grateful for the hope of heaven and the knowledge that she is reunited in glory with her husband Dave, who passed away in August 2002. Anyone blessed enough to know Betty Stoltzfus experienced the personification of the fruits of the Spirit outlined in Galatians 5. Her kindness, generosity, and radical hospitality marked everyone she met.
Above all, Betty was a selfless and joyful servant. Her favorite thing to do was whatever you wanted to do. She devoted her life to making the lives of those around her better, whether it was by sneakily picking up a tab, serving an unbeatable apple pie, or bringing a trash bag and scrub brush along on a walk around the neighborhood to pick up litter and clean the stop sign. She pushed up her sleeves, served in the shadows, never asked for thanks, and left everything she touched a little more beautiful.
Betty was born in 1936, to Elmer and Rebecca (Hertzler) Stoltzfus in Leola, PA. She grew up on a dairy farm with her parents and her siblings Fern, Faye, Bob, Esther, and Claire. Betty was active on the Dairy Farm possibly explaining the love of ice cream that followed her through the rest of her life. She helped to harvest the crops on the farm, proudly showed her favorite cow Dolly, and spent time with her favorite pony, Mac. She treasured her time in 4H, along with her memories of serving at Camp Shalom, a Jewish summer camp in Ontario, and her three years at Ontario Mennonite Bible Institute, where she often sang in quartets and the traveling choir.
Betty met her husband Dave through her dad. Both men studied at Lancaster Bible College. The couple taught Sunday school and served as youth leaders at Ebenezer Bible Chapel before marriage on May 25, 1969. She was instantly blessed with two daughters, Arlene and Diane, whom she adored, from his previous marriage to his late wife Sadie. The family grew with the arrival of Jeffrey David in 1970 and Julie Kristene in 1972. She served her Lord through her time as a pastor’s wife at Zion Mennonite in York for 14 years, then, at Zion Mennonite in Birdsboro followed by Bethany Grace Fellowship. Most recently she faithfully attended Refuge Calvary Chapel in New Holland.
Betty loved to sew, craft, garden, paint and sketch, film home movies of the family, hike, and especially loved long bike rides with Dave. Her joy was in serving in the kitchen with hospitality and telling people about Jesus which included teaching Women’s Bible studies, Children’s ministries, VBS’s, and backyard Good News Clubs through Child Evangelism Fellowship.
She is survived by daughter Arlene married to Wolfram Andrews, daughter Diane married to Randy Price, son Jeffrey Stoltzfus, daughter Julie married to Marc Hamer. Surviving siblings include Fern Mohler, Faye (Ken Heffner), Esther (Jim Rittenhouse), and SIL Tess Stoltzfus. Betty leaves behind a legacy and a call to faithful and joyful service for her 4 children, 14 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandkids to follow. She ran the race with endurance and finished well.
Viewing: June 21st from 6 to 8 PM at Garden Spot Village, New Holland. Service: June 22nd at 11am at Bethany Grace Fellowship, 400 Reading Rd. East Earl with a family greeting 10-10:45am. Interment will follow the service at 3 pm in Eby Cemetery, Leola. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship CEFlancaster.org.