Betsy Sherman Nichols

Betsy Nichols grew up in Batavia, Ohio where her love of music blossomed. She played French horn with the Batavia High School Band, the Cincinnati Youth Symphony and Columbia University Orchestra. Later she played violin with the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra and saxophone with the Hill Stompers Band in Los Alamos.  She also supported other musicians in many ways including serving as treasurer and later recording secretary of the Albuquerque chapter of Santa Fe Opera Guild. 

In addition to music, she loved travel, visiting all 50 states in search of geocaches with her then husband Steve Holmes. She was also adept at knitting and crocheting, winning many ribbons at the New Mexico State Fair. Friends and family treasure these one-of-a-kind afghans she created especially for them.

Betsy graduated from Barnard College in 1972 and later obtained an MBA from New Mexico Anderson Schools of Management.

To support her music/travel/knitting interests, she worked as a computer programmer for Department of Energy contractors, including SAIC and Los Alamos National Labs, feeling lucky to find a job that fit her interests and abilities so well.

She remained close to two former husbands until their deaths: Deyonna (fka Donald) Young and Steven Holmes.

Betsy is survived by her sisters Nancy Nichols and Judy Nichols, her nieces Clover Wier, Alysoun Gough,  Michelle Culbertson, and Niki Rouse her nephew Noah Lull and stepdaughter Kelsey Hall. Her parents, Hugh and Penny Nichols and sister Amy Kisner predeceased her.

Betsy wishes to offer special thanks to her friends Gwen Barnhart and Susan Little. Their care allowed her to stay in the East Mountain home she loved so much. She also wished to thank the medical specialists who cared for her over the 27 years she lived with Olfactory Neuroblastoma with special thanks to Nurse Caroline Burch, Dr. Allison Cook, UNM Hospital: Dr. Garth Olson, PA Kelsi Walla, nurse Sophia Tracy-Gay, Dr. Noah Syme, primary care physician Dr. David Church and ENT Dr. David Brown, dentists Dr. Ronald Ziemann and Dr. Benjamin Ham.

Visitation with family will be on Thursday April 9th from 3:00 to 5:00 at French Funeral Home, 7121 Wyoming Blvd NE in Albuquerque. Those who wish to raise a glass to Betsy are encouraged to stop for a drink at El Patron on Montgomery Boulevard after the visitation.

For those who wish to make a donation in Betsy's memory, she has requested you consider Planned Parenthood, East Mountain Food Pantry, and New Mexico Philharmonic.