Elizabeth Alsburg

Elizabeth Ann Grogan Van Alsburg (Betty) went to rest with the Lord on Saturday November 8 after struggling with Alzheimer's for years. Her family is comforted she is released and free. Betty was born on February 14, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois to Willard and Marguerite Grogan. While she was young her family moved to Hinsdale, Illinois where Betty graduated from Hinsdale Central High School. She spent one year at Barry College with the nuns before transferring sight unseen to Michigan State University. She joined the Delta Gamma sorority while there and graduated with a Home Economics degree in 1953. At MSU she met her husband of 55 years, Spence Van Alsburg, while on a blind date. The two got married shortly after Betty graduated, in September 1953. Spence left for Korea after the wedding and Betty stayed in Hinsdale working as a secretary for a law firm in Chicago. When Spence returned they moved extensively, living in New Jersey, Venezuela, Brazil, New Mexico before settling back in Hinsdale (1967) to raise their 5 children and start a business. Betty was instrumental in running the office and accounting side of the family's construction business and actively helped move the corporate offices to Colorado in 1982. Betty worked in the business for 10 more years and then retired to pursue other interests, such as traveling. Betty and Spence traveled all over the world but found they returned most often to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Betty loved her family unconditionally and will always be remembered for cooking big family meals in order to get us all together. Betty is survived by her husband, Spence; 5 children, Scott (Susan) Van Alsburg, Steve (Jaima) Van Alsburg, Geoff (Patricia) Van Alsburg, Lisa (Jim) Clay, and Tom (Val) Van Alsburg; 15 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; her two brothers, Bob (Anne) Grogan, and Bill (Rusti) Grogan; and her brother-in-law Cecil (Shari) Van Alsburg. A wake and recitation of the rosary will be held Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. and Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Wednesday, November 12 at 1:00 p.m. both at St. Joseph Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Food Bank for Larimer County, c/o Goes Funeral Care, 3665 Canal Drive, Ft. Collins, CO 80524.