Betty Ann (McLeod) Jensen passed away quietly in her Seattle home on Monday, August 4, 2025 at the age of 96, after a brief illness.
Born October 21, 1928 in Bellingham, WA to Oliver and Bessie McLeod, Betty grew up in Bellingham, earning her Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Western Washington College (now University). She spent the majority of her 31-year teaching career within the Seattle School District, the last 24 of which were at Adams Elementary in Ballard, retiring in 1993. It is estimated that she enriched the minds of over 1000 students over the years.
In addition to the school classroom, she taught both embroidery and beadwork, including beading classes at her retirement home as recently as last year. Betty was also a keen learner and crossworder, avid world traveler, curious, kind, and insatiably creative. Even in her last days she was directing us to adjust the display of things on her dresser, or straighten a picture on the wall. Her perpetual smile and good nature have been mentioned by so many people over the past few months.
She was active in many social groups over the years, including the Tiptoppers of the 1950s, the Pacific Northwest Needle Arts Guild, Northwest Bead Society, Northwest Collage Society, Seattle Mountaineers, and so on. Betty also loved the arts—both performance and visual. She could often be found at a gallery, museum or theater around the Northwest.
Betty is survived by her sons David of Seattle, WA, and Mark of Bozeman, MT, and daughter Christy (& Jamie) Gordon of Ellensburg, WA.
A celebration of her wonderful life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at The Charter Club at Point Edwards, 93 Pine St, Edmonds, Washington.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Betty, please visit our Tree Store.
Betty Ann (McLeod) Jensen passed away quietly in her Seattle home on Monday, August 4, 2025 at the age of 96, after a brief illness.
Born October 21, 1928 in Bellingham, WA to Oliver and Bessie McLeod, Betty grew up in Bellingham, earning her Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Western Washington College (now University). Sh
Published on September 14, 2025
In Memory of Betty Ann Jensen