Elizabeth "Betsy" Rohrbaugh

Elizabeth "Betsy" (Peterson) Rohrbaugh, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on December 13, 2025, at the age of 83. Born in Lyons, Kansas on November 16, 1942, Betsy grew up in Bushton, Kansas. She was known for her warm heart and vibrant spirit, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew her.Betsy attended college at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. She worked in a variety of settings over the years including waitressing at Red Lobster, processing tax returns for the IRS, providing customer service at Target, assisting customers at Catherine’s women’s clothing store, and running a souvenir booth at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. Throughout all her careers, Betsy exemplified dedication to her work and a commitment to serving others.

On June 16, 1962, Betsy was united in marriage to Bryce Earl Rohrbaugh of Great Bend, Kansas. They started their life together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where their first child, Tonie, was born in 1964. After a few years the family returned to Merriam, Kansas, where Mark (1967) and Mitchell (1973) joined the family. In 1982, Bryce’s work led the family to live in many exciting locations including Bangkok, Thailand; Orem, Utah; Poughkeepsie, New York; and Jackson, Michigan. They returned to the Kansas City area in 1992, living the remainder of their days in Olathe and Lenexa.

Betsy was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She took immense pride in her family, nurturing strong bonds with her three children; five grandchildren, Beth, Kevin, Nick, Benjamin, and James; and great granddaughter, Zoey. Her love knew no bounds, and her family will forever treasure the memories they created together.

Betsy's spirit extended beyond the home; she had a variety of interests that brought her joy. A Kansas City Chiefs fan, she loved watching football, especially on Sunday afternoons, when all the kids and grandkids would come over to spend the day. Betsy loved music; singing was one of her passions and she participated in the church choir for many years. She was a bridge enthusiast and excelled at playing cards with family and friends. Crafting was another pastime, as she enjoyed expressing her creativity through various handiwork projects. Betsy possessed a sense of adventure that led her to travel all over the country and around the world. One of her most memorable experiences was living in Thailand with her husband, Bryce, and their children. They moved from the United States to Thailand twice, living there for more than five years in total. Betsy and Bryce also traveled to many other places including Ireland, Greece, and New Zealand, and enjoyed several Caribbean cruises with their children and grandchildren.

When Betsy was in her early 60’s, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which progressed slowly for many years. Bryce became Betsy’s constant caregiver, enabling her to remain in the family home until just a year before she passed. Though the disease progressed, Betsy’s unique personality and sense of humor remained intact. Betsy continued to be able to beat everyone at cards for several years after being diagnosed. Up until the end of her life, she also continued to sing and hum along to familiar songs.

Betsy's husband,Bryce, followed her almost immediately into God’s eternal presence, passing away just three days after Betsy, on December 16, 2025. Throughout their 62- year marriage, they could almost always be found together. Betsy’s warm presence, kind heart, and adventurous spirit will be deeply missed by her surviving family members, including her sister Mildred (Kay) Dundas of Olathe, Kansas; her children Tonie Foster (Mike) of Warrensburg, Missouri; Mark (Lisa) Rohrbaugh of Lenexa, Kansas; and Mitchell Rohrbaugh (Ilona Bissmann) of Greenwood, Indiana; her five grandchildren Beth (Josh) Johnson, Kevin Foster, Nick (Mollie) Rohrbaugh, Benjamin Rohrbaugh, and James Foster; and great granddaughter, Zoey Rohrbaugh. Betsy’s legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her. 

Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association.

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