Lisbeth “Betsy” Patricia Tallent (November 17, 1952- September 9, 2021) lived a beautiful, dignified life. A discerning woman of exquisite taste, she provided comfort and solace while asking little in return. Her husband, David, adored her and together they taught their children, Samuel and Sophia, integrity, loyalty and compassion, imbuing them with the confidence necessary to pursue life with a pervasive, contagious fervor. She was her sister’s hero: Julie loved and admired her, as did her husband Tom - they loved her very much.

Betsy was born in Akron, Ohio before her parents, William and Dolores Taylor, moved north to Cleveland. She graduated from Chagrin Falls High School before enrolling in Ohio University. She dropped out of college to work at Sea World with her sister because “it was fun and in Florida.” Eventually she received her undergraduate degree in Economics from Kent State before relocating to Colorado.

She never intended to move to Colorado. She told her son that she wound up in Denver because she was driving to San Diego and ran out of gas. She became a bank examiner at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency where she met Dave, fell in love and began a marriage that lasted 42 years. Her sister, Tom and ultimately her parents all relocated to Colorado to be near her. Dave and Betsy moved to Elizabeth, Colorado, to be close to Dave’s family: his parents, Ova and Sofronia, his sister Theta, her husband Pat, and their children, Sarah, Alita and Patricio. When Sam was born, the family collectively spoiled him. In 1990, Betsy and her sister gave birth to daughters in rapid succession, and those girls grew into women who exhibit the best aspects of their respective mothers.

Never one to settle, Betsy, a lifelong creative, earned her Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver and left banking behind. In the planning department of Douglas County, Colorado, she oversaw the area’s tremendous growth. She helped shepherd Castle Pines into existence and under her guidance, the largest mall in Colorado, Park Meadows, flourished. Despite her daunting responsibilities, she never failed to be anything less than excellent as a mother, exposing her children to culture well beyond their rural confines. The family traveled often: Quebec, Anna Maria Island, Taos, St. Croix, Disney (not her idea). Most beloved was New Orleans: the family visited yearly so that Betsy could watch her husband pretend to enjoy oysters.

When her children moved to Denver, Betsy returned to her job at the Federal Reserve to be closer to them. She enjoyed long lunches and longer happy hours with her kids weekly. When Sam decided to become a comedian, she frequented his early shows in dive bars, watching nervously from the shadows, terrified for her son yet never faking a single laugh. Betsy and her daughter were best friends. They talked every day. No one knew her better. Nothing brought Betsy more joy than knowing her children were happy and safe. She was very grateful to know that her children had excellent partners. To her, Emily and Mel were blessings and they loved her in kind.

Betsy loved properly arranged flowers, rare steak, The West Wing, saccharine sweet cocktails, the decorating of doll houses, identifying incompetence, Roseville pottery, dark chocolate, David Sedaris, Patsy Cline, Fred Willard, Cristopher Guest, meals near water, euchre, her husband, personal accountability, Frasier, white linen blouses, grande non-fat extra extra dry cappuccinos, her nephew Henry’s red hair, oysters Rockefeller, gatherings with specific guest lists, laughter, the films of Sandra Bullock, Law and Order, eBay, the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, Country Living, her niece Annie’s home design aesthetic, David Gborie, Nicole Jursnick, reading, New England, autumn, her family, cold pillows, Janis Joplin, generosity, providing, Golden Retrievers and Christmas.

She hated bad service, spineless people and fantasy football.

To her daughter she leaves her kindness and total lack of naivety. To her son she leaves her sardonic wit and disdain for authority. To her husband she leaves her undying love, unfathomable gratitude and their two beautiful children who love him more than words can ever describe.

On September 28, a service for friends and family will be held at the Denver Botanic Gardens York Street with a wake to follow at the Denver Comedy Works. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Betsy’s memorial tree: https://everloved.com/life-of…

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