Elizabeth "Betty" A. Olberding, 81, of Leavenworth, Kansas, died Tuesday, December 16, 2025, peacefully in her home.

Betty was born March 7, 1944 in Sabetha, Kansas, the daughter of Leonard and Suitberta Rochel Burdick. She grew up helping on the farm and herding her younger brothers and sisters at the Rochel family homestead. She attended Fidelity Grade School, and graduated from Fairview High School in 1962. She moved to Wichita, Kansas to attend Sacred Heart Junior College (Newman University).

She married Duane A. Olberding on December 26, 1964 at St. Augustine's Church in Fidelity, Kansas. They settled in Hays, Kansas, before moving to Leavenworth in 1973. In 1977, Betty and Duane decided to buy 40 acres about three miles southwest of town and farm part time, working together running a Christmas Tree Farm for 20 years. Betty also worked as a Tupperware manager for over 30 years before she went back to school to pursue an accounting degree at the University of St. Mary's in Leavenworth. She completed her degree in May, 1990, graduating from college the same day as her youngest brother, and the same month her youngest child completed high school.

Betty had many hobbies and passions throughout her life. She loved to sew and create, making her own wedding dress, outfits, and quilts over the years. She spent many hours gathering and teaching international wives how to sew and quilt. She enjoyed gardening and was known for her green thumb, creating homemade jam and sharing fresh produce with her friends and family. She loved to volunteer and travel, two joys that fueled 40 years sponsoring international families in coordination with the Command and General Staff College, and People to People International. Over these 40 years Betty and Duane have befriended and hosted families from Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Kazaakhstan, Lithuania, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, and Turkey. Modeling for her children, grandchildren and greater community the importance of global connection and friendship.

She was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Leavenworth, volunteering with her husband as Marriage Prep hosts, serving coffee & rolls for many years and coordinating the Parish Germanfest.

Survivors include her husband, Duane, of the home, two sons, Anthony Olberding of Bloomington Springs, Tennessee, and Arlen (Keiko Tamura), Olberding, of Fort Collins, Colorado; and one daughter, Anne Anderson of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren Nikolas Anderson of Kansas City, Kansas, Kathryn Anderson of Overland Park, Kansas, and Madelyn Anderson of Kansas City, Missouri; brothers Robert (Sandy) Burdick of Fairview, Kansas, Lenny Burdick of Centralia, Kansas, sisters  Mary (John) Rottinghaus of Seneca, and Lila (Steve) Brown of Meridian, Idaho, as well as countless nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Suitberta, her son, Capt. Andrew J. Olberding on February 22, 1996; her sister Leona Shepherd on February 28, 1996; sister-in-law Beverly Burdick on May 6, 2000. She was also preceded in death by her nephews Adam H. Burdick on April 28, 1996 and Timothy J. Burdick on May 28, 2012.

A Visitation will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025, 5:00-7:00 pm at Davis Funeral Chapel beginning by a recitation of the rosary at 5 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, December 23, at St. Joseph's Church in Leavenworth, Kansas. Burial will be in St. Augustin's Cemetery, Fidelity, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Xavier Catholic School.