Elizabeth Betrone
Everywhere she went she collected new friends much as she did seashells and the cherished greeting cards that came of so many friendships.
According to Beth's wishes a private ceremony will be held at the convenience of the family.
Elizabeth Betrone (Beth) was born in Columbia, PA in 1938, the younger daughter of George Y. and Anna S. Berntheizel. Beth passed away peacefully at home from natural causes on June 18, 2026 at the age of 87.
Beth attended Holy Trinity in Columbia, PA, and graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School in 1956 where she twirled as a majorette in the marching band. She established friendships from these beginnings that she cherished through a lifetime surviving family moves and the natural passage of time. Beth married John Wesley Betrone III on August 17, 1957. Their married life took them from Pennsylvania to Ohio to Delaware before returning home again to Lancaster County, where they settled in Landisville for more than forty years. Together they raised four children.
In her active youth, Beth was a crackerjack clay pigeon shooter, a lover of canoeing, and an enthusiastic participant in at-home sing-alongs while playing the family piano. She introduced her own children to boogie boarding and building drippy castles during long, shared summer stays at Stone Harbor with family and friends. Wherever she lived she found ways to contribute. Beth started a church preschool program in Ohio, volunteered as a Campfire Girl, and Cub Scout leader, and taught CCD at St. Leo's Church in Lancaster. As a grandmother, she attended ballet recitals, orchestra and chorus concerts, and sporting events. From an artistic family, Beth taught her personal signature drawings of house, tree, tulip, and rabbit to her grandchildren. Beth even memorably performed her own bathtub baptism ritual on some of her grandchildren.
Beth dove deeply into a lengthy encore career at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, making a splash ultimately for 23 years as an Academic Department Coordinator for Departments of Philosophy and Religious Studies. She retired in 2011, having been awarded the inaugural Richard Kneedler Distinguished Service Award in 2006 for her naturally caring involvement that continued into retirement. She appreciated working and learning with faculty, administration, students, and fellow staff, especially the facilities and operations team. She is remembered by many not only for her dedication but for her collegial mischief and frequent laughter.
Beth imbued every gathering with a festive spirit yet also had a friendly competitive streak that showed up in all she did, from tennis, bowling, darts, pinochle, and in her later years at Woodcrest Villa, canasta. Through the course of her lifetime, Beth and her husband, John enjoyed traveling to Germany, Iceland, Switzerland; Acapulco, Mexico; Taos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico; Dolores, Colorado; Santa Cruz, Kirkwood, Tahoe, California, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, St. Augustine and Indialantic, Florida as well as frequent trips to Cape Cod and Nantucket, Massachusetts. Everywhere she went she collected new friends much as she did seashells and the cherished greeting cards that came of so many friendships.
Beth is survived by her four children, Beth (Steve) Vail, Miki (John) Betrone-Harpst, Susan (Scott) Van Arman, and Michael (Melissa) Betrone; seven grandchildren, Ali (James), Kenzie (Eddie), Jessica (Meli), Justin (Caroline), Greta, Claudine, and Iris; two great-grandchildren Jocelyn and Savannah; brother Jack (Dr. Peg Bohnert) Berntheizel; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years John Betrone, brothers George (dear lifelong friend Sue) and Jim Berntheizel, and sister Ann B. Clarey.
According to Beth's wishes a private ceremony will be held at the convenience of the family.
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