Betsy L. Johnson (Leiter)
Betsy Lenore Johnson (Leiter) passed away peacefully at Good Shepherd Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on November 13, 2025 at age 80.
Born May 1, 1945 to the late Earl and Vivian Leiter in Ashland, OH. She graduated from Ashland High School, Class of 1963. Betsy was active in 4H where she learned to sew, going on to win many ribbons at the county and state fairs. She made most of her own clothes over the years, as well as many others – including many wedding and bridesmaid dresses for family and friends. Sewing was her therapy to relax.
Betsy attended Bowling Green University for two years then Ashland College graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor degree in Education. She taught Home Economics for 8 years at Ontario High School until her son Benjamin was born in 1976. Betsy later helped start the Montessori School at Ashland College and taught there for many years; and went on to work for the Department of Education at Ashland University, retiring in 2005. Betsy also helped establish the Scholarship fund for the Anderson Community Club.
Along the way she met her sweetheart (Rick) at 4H camp at age 13 and he became the love of her life. The happy couple were wed on May 26, 1966 at Trinity Lutheran Church by Pastor Kinsey. Together they celebrated 59 wonderful and loving years, rarely ever leaving each other’s side.
Betsy was a huge (and loud!) Ashland University basketball fan, once winning the Fan of the Year award. She had a great time feeding the teams home cooked meals at their home; and thought of many of them like her own kids. Betsy and Rick traveled to many away games and tournaments cherishing their time with the teams. They also spent many of their summers with great friends at their camper and boat on Lake Erie. She loved fishing and being on the water in the summers.
Betsy leaves behind her husband Rick and son Ben of Ashland; a brother Bill of Bailey CO; her sister-in-law, Ann Abele of Marietta OH; Rick’s family and Betsy’s sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Eleanor Johnson of Wooster OH, Lynn and Virginia Johnson of Shreve OH, Lola Johnson of Millersburg OH, Janet Yoder of Jeromesville OH, Ginney Michel of Rittman OH, Randy Johnson of Lakeville OH.
In addition to her parents, Betsy is preceded in death by her brother, Paul Leiter; her brothers and sisters-in-laws, Ludeen Leiter, Herb and Patricia Johnson, Ben Johnson, Jack Johnson, and her canine companion, Homer.
Her family deeply thanks the staff at Good Shepherd and Pathways Hospice for taking such great and loving care of her.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday afternoon, November 16, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home with Trudy Bates, Celebrant presiding. Friends and family may visit two hours prior to the service from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Following the service a meal and time of fellowship will be held in the Legacy Room.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pathways Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association.
For those who may not be able to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com