Elizabeth (Betsy) Ann Koenig was born February 19, 1961 at Baltimore, Maryland to F. Joseph and Mary Ellen (Bafford) Scanlan.

Betsy spent her preschool years in Salisbury, Maryland.  Her family then moved to Le Sueur, Minnesota where she attended grade school and high school.  Betsy graduated from Le Sueur High School in 1979.  She then attended Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota where she received her teaching degree.  During college, she worked at a Girl Scout Camp in the summer as a swimming instructor and the Green Giant canning factory in Le Sueur.  She began her teaching career in Isabel, South Dakota and later served at the Wagner School District in Wagner, South Dakota, and the latest in the South Central School District in Bonesteel, South Dakota.

Betsy met Carl when she first taught in the Fairfax Elementary School.  She and Carl were united in marriage on August 15, 1987.  They made their home east of Fairfax on a small farm and had two children: Joseph and Sheryl.  She was a very devoted wife and mother and would always put her family before herself.  Betsy never missed any activities her kids were in and was always an amazing support throughout their lives.

As a child, Betsy loved animals, rocks, fossils and studying living things, so its no wonder she became a very devoted science and math teacher.  She had a passion for learning and bringing new experiences to her students in the classroom, which led her to complete her Masters Degree in Education from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.  Betsy thought highly of her students and education.  She was working on her Specialist Degree and had a classroom full of projects for her students.  She had countless class pets including turtles, a gecko, tropical fish, and even had a mini fish hatchery of rainbow trout that she was planning on releasing later in the year.  Betsy loved all of her students and believed in their full potential.

Betsy was very involved in her church and community.  She had a beautiful voice and had a love of music.  She sang in the choir at St. Anthony's Catholic Church and lectured during mass.  She was also a member of St. Anthony's Altar Society.

Betsy was preceded in death by her grandparents, her aunt, and her mother and father-in-laws.