Nov. 4, 1928 ~ Dec. 19, 2022
Meeker native Elizabeth “Betty” Jane Oldland—a retired schoolteacher whose first job was helping out at her family’s newspaper, The Meeker Herald—died peacefully in Lone Tree, Colorado, on Dec. 19, 2022. The beloved mother and grandmother was 94.
Born on Nov. 4, 1928, to Richard Gibson Lyttle and Jessie Margaret (Gillis) Lyttle, Betty attended Meeker High School, where she was valedictorian. She went on to study journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder, forming lifelong friendships with her sorority sisters, and later earned her teaching certificate from Denver University.
Betty married the love of her life, Alan Hubbard Oldland, on Sept. 9, 1950. She taught school for many years at Lewis Ames Elementary in Littleton, Colo., while he worked as an engineer after serving in the Navy. They lived in Colorado, California and Washington and had three children over their 40 years together before returning to their Meeker roots.
With infinite patience and a special place in her heart for third graders, Betty maintained a lifelong love of educating children, working long into her retirement as a substitute teacher in Meeker and at the single-room Rock School in Piceance Creek.
Always up for adventure, Betty and Alan traveled across the country on a Harley motorcycle and took trips around the world with family and friends in a group called Destination Unknown, which planned surprise outings. A tour around New Zealand was one of Betty’s favorite memories.
Passionate about the outdoors, the avid hiker once won a Smokey Bear Award for putting out a wildfire by filling her shoes with creek water and was known for collecting colorful rocks found along trails. Betty was happiest outside cross-country skiing, gardening, golfing or even driving about town, often telling stories about summers she worked as a teen at the 101 Club mountain resort near Trappers Lake.
Proud of her pioneering family’s legacy as the founders of her mountain hometown’s newspaper, Betty had a deep appreciation for words—always having a neat stack of newspapers and books nearby. She lived in Meeker most of her life, actively involved in the Saint James’ Episcopal Church Guild and P.E.O., and once rode in the town’s stagecoach as a grand marshal of the Fourth of July Parade.
Always surrounded by family who loved and cared for her, Betty spent the last few winters in Aurora and returned to Meeker each summer.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her brother, Richard G. Lyttle Jr.; her sister, Margo M. Coons; and her great-granddaughter, Savannah.
Survivors include: daughter Janice Lynn Oldland; son Alan Richard Oldland (and Jane Oldland); son Robert Reuben Oldland (and Kryste Oldland); grandchildren Jaime McGraw, Ashleigh Ruhl, Lexi Donohue and Alan Oldland; and great-grandchildren Emma, Jada and Aria.
Memorial services at St. James’ Episcopal Church will be scheduled at a later date.
