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Betty Marinsek, deceased December 29, 2005. Betty was born in Norwood Park in Chicago, IL on May 23, 1927. Her parents were Ann and Joseph Crews. Betty was their first born child after years of unfulfilled expectation by her parents who had sought the aid of Edgar Casee, the prominent sayer of the times. He prescribed a gold elixir and other remedies. In later years, Betty was even amused by the story. Betty's family moved to Park Ridge, where she spent her childhood. During her junior high school years, she was enrolled in an experimental program for gifted children, sponsored by the University of Chicago. By that time she was a serious student of the piano, at the insistence of her parents. At the beginning of World War II, Betty's family moved to the now suburb of Glen Elen, IL, where the family could keep a garden, chickens, and rabbits in anticipation of the food shortages and rationing caused by the war. She told many stories about those adventures. Betty graduated from Glenbard High School in 1945, and entered a Navy sponsored nursing program at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. After a year she developed health problems and withdrew. In the fall of 1947, she and her brother boarded the A.T.S. F. and headed to Highlands University, joining a small contingent of students from the Chicago suburbs. There she met Ed Marinsek, who was attracted by her long blonde hair, beauty, and personality. At school she had already acquired the nickname of "Sparkle Plenty" after the Dick Tracy comic strip of the time. She and Ed were married on February 14, 1948 in Mora, NM on a beautiful winter day. Shortly thereafter they moved to Gallup, NM, her husband's home town, where she was warmly accepted by his family. Ed's mother taught her how to cook on a coal and wood range. In the ensuing years she developed and avid interest and skill as a gourmet cook. All who shared at her table can testify to that. Their first son, Karl was born later that year and shortly thereafter they moved to the Chicago suburbs so that Ed could complete his degree. Their first daughter, Shellie was born Christmas Day 1949 and their children, Greg, Matt, and Cassandra followed. After Ed's graduation they moved to Albuquerque in 1952, bought their first home that sheltered their family for 49 years thereafter. Betty returned to U.N.M. and received her BS degree in education in 1961 and started her career as a 1st grade teacher. She had a gift for teaching. Betty received a MA degree in Guidance and Counseling and in the following 15 years, served as a counselor in many schools in all parts of the city, working with the prosperous and poor. The last years of her counseling career were at El Dorado High School where she was a positive impact on the lives of countless students and parents. After retirement in 1986 she and Ed, their family and friends, built a summer home on the Pine River near Durango, CO. Some of the happiest moments of her life were spent there each year. Betty was an avid reader and a lover of good music. She was an amateur painter and collector of southwestern art. Her home reflected her eclectic tastes. She took pride in the home decorating skills, displaying her many lifelong collections of the arts. Her last couple of years were plagued with poor health, ending in renal failure. The family is ever grateful to the medical caregivers at Lovelace for their support and care in her final days. She is survived by her husband, Ed; living offspring, Karl, Matthew, and Cassandra; their spouses; and her grandchildren, Robert and Jessica; a brother, Robert and his family from Las Cruces, NM. In celebration of Betty's life, the family extends an invitation to friends and relatives to join them from 1 - 3 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2006 at the family home at 6404 Little Joe NW in Taylor Ranch. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
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