Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" (Biggs) Zollner
Marriages
F. Stanton "Stan" Zollner - September 5, 1953
Married in Cascade, CO
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 8C - September 25, 2022
Precious in the sight of
the Lord is the death of his
saints. Ps 116:15
Heaven just got a little
sweeter, Mary Elizabeth
(Betsy) Biggs Zollner, the
eldest daughter of Clyde
and Josephine Ramsay Biggs, was born in Grand
Junction, Colorado on color Sunday, April 11, 1926. She
was full of energy and a loving and devoted mother,
grandmother, great grandmother, sister, Aunt, Great
Aunt, neighbor and friend.
Betsy graduated in December of ‘42 at 16 from Grand
Junction High School in the class of ‘43. She attended
Rosemary Hall in Greenwich Connecticut as a prep
school and Pine Manor Junior College in Boston and
Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts class
of ‘48. After her graduation from Smith she traveled
in Europe to visit her Aunt Mary Ramsay Briner’s
family, a Jungian analyst, who worked out of Zurich,
Switzerland. Her travels in Europe ended by living with
a French family while attending the Sorbonne in Paris,
France. Betsy joined the Anglican (Episcopal) Church
when she was in Paris in 1949.
As a young woman she worked for her father here in
Grand Junction for Biggs-Kurtz, and then in Denver and
New York for other employers.
She met her husband-to-be, F. Stanton Zollner,
at her sister’s wedding, the brother of the groom.
Marrying out of Cascade, Colorado on September 5,
1953 at Grace Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado
with a reception at the Garden of the Gods. They had
apre-wedding celebration in Grand Junction at 1241
Gunnison Avenue. The newly-wed couple lived in New
York City where they had one daughter, Katherine
Elizabeth, while Stan worked for Prentice Hall Book
Publishing in the loose leaf tax services division. They
were later divorced in 1957; Betsy and Kate returned to
Grand Junction, Colorado.
Betsy was a community volunteer for: Attention
To Youth, Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and in
education. She played music in schools when needed,
and faithfully played the piano for many years at La
Villa Grande during lunches.
Betsy was active in many clubs and organizations:
AAUW {American Association of University
Women} where she participated in Walking groups
and Book Reviews through AAUW for over 50 yrs,
and Bookcliff Country Club Book Club, a long-time
member of Wednesday Music Club, DAR {Daughters
of American Revolution}, National Federation of Music
Clubs, a member of Mesa County Historical Society,
St. Matthew’s Church and bible studies and Women’s
Community Bible Study, Knife and Fork Club, in the
‘60’s she was a member of the World Friendship Council
and was on the Board of Chipeta Girl Scout Council in
the 1970’s and was a founding member of Chipeta Girl
Scouts when she was a girl.
In the summers she spent time on the Frying Pan
River at the Family cabin where she was involved with
the United Methodist Church in Thomasville, Colorado
as well as a women’s group called The Valley Girl’s.
Her altruistic nature, in conjunction with her mother
Josephine Biggs, encouraged the enhancement of
local artists including accumulation of Harold Bryant
paintings at the Mesa County Art Center plus donating
monies to schools: Lincoln (Park) Elementary for
the playground and Broadway Elementary for the
computer lab. She enjoyed attending the Grand Junction
Symphony as well as Community Concerts.
Betsy was preceded in death by her father: Clyde
Hunter Biggs 1952; mother: Josephine Kate Ramsay
Biggs 1996; sister: Sarah {Sally Biggs} Leonhardt
{1993}, Bill Leonhardt {brother-in-law 1993}, Richard
C. Zollner {brother-in-law} 1990, ex-husband F. Stanton
Zollner 1993.
She leaves behind: a daughter, Katherine Elizabeth
{Katie} Zollner Zeck, granddaughters: Marie Zeck
Knopp (Clint), Rebekah Zeck Scarrow (Foley). Six
grandchildren: Lily, Tucker, Silas, Phebe Knopp;
Logan Mendrop & Ellie Scarrow. A sister: Marjorie
Biggs Zollner, nieces: Margaret Zollner Ahern,
Anne Leonhardt and nephews: David Zollner
(Corrine), Stephen Leonhardt (Cheryl), grandnieces/
nephews: Rachel Ahern Knudson (Ed), Nathaniel
Ahern (Charlotte), Abraham Ahern, Grace Ahern
Stuckey(Jason), John Ahern (Medora), Andrew Zollner,
Peter Zollner, David Leonhardt, Madeleine Leonhardt.
Many thanks to Primary Care Partners: Dr. Patrick
Page/Melissa and Hope West and their staff especially
Danni and Kindall.
Services will be held October 8th, 2022 at 11:00 AM
at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. A reception will
follow at the Bookcliff Country Club at 1:30 PM.
Donations in lieu of flowers:
St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Grand Junction
{3888 27 1/2 Road Grand Junction, CO 81506 www.
stmatthewsgj.org
Clyde and Josephine Biggs foundation, with Western
Colorado Community Foundation, P.O. Box 4334,
Grand Junction, CO 81502 www.wc-cf.org
Hope West 3090 North 12th Street, Grand Jct., CO
81506, www.HopeWestCO.org.
