Betsy Louise Hansen

Betsy Louise (Oyen) Hansen Obituary

April 18, 1942 – May 8, 2026

Betsy L. Hansen was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, on April 18, 1942, to Carl Oyen and Barbara M. Shook Oyen, the eldest of three Oyen children. As her delivery room extended over the water, Betsy was quite literally born on beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. Her early years were spent in Sandpoint, where she learned to pound nails into scrap lumber with her Grandpa Shook and explored the woods of the family homestead north of town. Betsy often recalled those days as among her happiest.

After third grade, Betsy moved with her family to Moscow, Idaho, where she enjoyed the rest of her childhood. During those years, she was active in Job’s Daughters, school band, church choir, and the church youth group. She and her brother, Bill, delivered newspapers on an early-morning paper route to earn spending money. During her high school summers, Betsy worked as a carhop at the A&W Drive-In in Moscow.

After graduating from Moscow High School, Betsy attended the University of Idaho, where she studied for two years. During this time, she participated in the University of Idaho Marching Band and UI Singers, as well as the Methodist Church choir. It was in that choir that she was introduced to a freshman tenor named David Hansen. That meeting that would shape the next 63 years of her life. Betsy and David were married at Moscow Methodist Church on August 11, 1962.

Betsy worked for the University of Idaho’s Math Department and College of Business Dean’s Office for four years while David completed his degree. Afterwards, Betsy and David moved to Iowa City for David to attend graduate school at the University of Iowa. The couple then settled in Des Moines for the next twelve years. During this time, they were blessed with the arrival of David Jr., their first child. Betsy stayed home with him during his early years. A year and a half later, they welcomed a second blessing, their daughter, Deborah. During these years, Betsy also began working for MONY in Des Moines. In her spare time, Betsy kept the scorebook for David’s various school athletic teams, a service she continued for many years. One of her most memorable activities was co-sponsoring a Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle group at Saydel High School, where she shared many hours of fun, faith, and fellowship with the students.

In 1979, Betsy and her family moved back to Idaho’s Treasure Valley. She later earned a degree in elementary education from Northwest Nazarene University. For twenty-three years, she taught fifth grade in Nampa at both Eastside and Sherman Elementary Schools. Betsy found teaching to be a rewarding and fulfilling career.

Throughout her adult life, Betsy enjoyed hobbies such as traveling, stamp collecting, genealogical research, and singing in church choir. She was thankful for the many friends she made through these activities.

Betsy was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Barbara Oyen, and her grandparents, the Shook and Johnson families. She is survived by her husband, David; son, David Jr. (Nancy); daughter, Deborah; grandsons, Brady Charrier and Kai Hansen; brother, Bill (Barbara) Oyen; sister, Micki (Tom) Moore; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Betsy will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Betsy’s life will be held at 11:00 on Friday, July 17, 2026 at Meridian United Methodist Church, 235 E. Pine St., Meridian, ID 83642

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation be made in Betsy’s name to the Merle A. and F. Laverne Hansen scholarship at the University of Idaho, Moscow Idaho.