- Date Of Birth: December 15, 1931
- Date Of Death: February 01, 2021
- City: Peetz
- State: Colorado
Betty was born to John and Clara (Copley) Nelson on December 15, 1931 on the family farm west of Peetz, CO. She was the third child and first daughter of ten children. Betty attended Peetz schools, graduating High School in 1949, and went on to study piano at Sherwood Music School in Chicago, IL.
She made her choice to serve the lord at a young age, and throughout her life held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those who surrounded her.
Betty met Melvin “Pud” Lockhart through a friend in Sidney, NE. They were married January 14, 1954. They celebrated 67 happy years of marriage together, and had 5 children; Gregory, Kent, Keta, Tracy and Kelle. The family moved from Sidney, NE to Sterling, CO in 1966.
In addition to being a dedicated and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Betty also loved piano which was a life-long passion. Teaching and passing on her love of music to her piano students was one of the joys of her life. She was a lifetime member of the Music Teachers National Association along with the Colorado State Music Teachers Association, holding many offices at the state and local levels over the years. She was always willing to help her friends, family and community, and delivered Meals on Wheels for 33 years in Sterling.
Betty was the first woman in Cheyenne County Nebraska to obtain a private pilot’s license and loved to fly! Betty and Mel traveled extensively and had the privilege of meeting with the friends on many of their trips. While home in Colorado, they enjoyed their time at their mountain cabin which they built themselves.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; Brothers John LaVerne Nelson, Paul and wife Dallas Nelson, Stan and wife Lorna Nelson, and infant brother Lyman Nelson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in- law Russell and Jeanette Lockhart, Virginia Wagner, Hilton and Betty Lockhart, Corlee and Harold Ball, and Kenny Lockhart; and grandson, Stetson Lockhart.
She is survived by her husband, Melvin of Sterling, CO, her children Greg (Pat) Lockhart of Mattawan, MI, Kent Lockhart of Branscomb, CA, Keta (Gordon) Jones of Fort Lupton, CO, Tracy (Julie) Lockhart of Loveland, CO, and Kelle (John) Hart of Kersey, CO; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; Siblings Lloyd (Arlee) Nelson of Burnett, TX, Jim Nelson of Greeley, CO, Arlo (Jody) Nelson of Albuquerque, NM, Larry (Esther) Nelson of Sterling, CO, Connie (Dennis) Hawes of Fort Morgan, CO, and sister-in-law Pauline Nelson of Sterling, CO.
