Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Knapper Holsen, 88 of Lakeland, FL and formerly Philipsburg, passed away in Lakeland on July 4, 2010.
She was the daughter of the late William and Mary (Kelley) Knapper.
She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Lakeland, FL.; she had worked as a medical lab technician at Hahneman University Hospital in Philadelphia during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. She was also a homemaker; she was a graduate of the Philipsburg High School and attended the Lock Haven State Teacher’s College. She later received her certification as a medical laboratory technician from teh Graduate Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania.
On Jan. 1, 1998 in Lakeland, FL, she married Merle E. Holsen, who survives in Lakeland.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; an infant daughter; and brothers John, William and Charles Knapper.
She is survived by step-daughter Susan Moffitt and her husband Tony of Lakeland, FL; son James Gray and his wife Jean of Rathdrum, ID; sister Jane Gross of Grand Island, NY; grandchildren Jim Gray and his wife Melissa of Coeurd’alene, ID and Richard Gray and his wife Sherry of Boise, ID; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on July 9 at 11 a.m. at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg, with the Rev. Robert J. Kelly Officiating. Burial will be at the Philipsburg Cemetery. Visitation will be on July 9 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Good Shephard Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auberndale, FL 33823.
Online condolences may be sent to: beezer-heathfuneralhome.com.
