Elizabeth "Betsy" Plummer Wiederhold

Elizabeth “Betsy” Plummer Wiederhold died peacefully at her home in Francestown on January 4, 2022. She was born August 1, 1928 in Radnor, PA, the daughter of William Plummer, Jr. and Letitia Eves Davis Plummer. She attended Radnor High School, George School and Drexel Institute of Technology.

Betsy married Louis Wiederhold III, MD in June of 1949. They settled in Francestown in July of 1952; first living in the town parsonage, and then moving up the road in 1954 to what became known as “Harem Hill”. By 1958 the family had grown to four daughters. Over the years the family also included a varied collection of family pets - dogs, cats, burro, horse, canary, hamsters, white mice, rabbit, raccoon and turtles. She had a deep affection for every creature except the white mice!

Along with raising her four girls, Betsy was very active in town as a volunteer on many projects and committees. She was the driving force behind creating the first children’s room in the town library and started the reading program for elementary children when the school was located just across the street. Various spots around town were also made more beautiful with her skill and passion for flower gardens. She was member of the Cemetery Commission and Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.

Folks describe Betsy as vivacious, loving, creative, mischievous, funny, devoted and strong willed. She was a woman of many dimensions and talents. Her creative explorations included knitting, spinning, painting, needlepoint, crewel, embroidery and chorale singing, and she excelled at them all. She was an active person enjoying a good game of tennis, waterskiing and was a regular on the slopes of the original Crotched Mountain. The Wiederhold Labor Day floats were a result of her creativity and sense of humor.

In the mid-1980’s Betsy became deeply involved in raising, showing and training Newfoundland dogs. Her puppies were sought after for pets and show, and she willingly shared her extensive knowledge and deep love for the breed with anyone. She traveled to dog shows throughout the United States and Canada garnering many wins and making many friends - both human and canine. A few Labrador Retrievers and Pembroke Welsh Corgis were also members of the Seawied “herd”.

Once all her daughters had left home, Betsy’s heart and sense of adventure drew her to the coast of Maine. For decades she spent every summer on her beloved Yellow Island in Frenchman Bay with multiple dogs in tow.

She is survived by her four daughters, Nancy (Jim), Tisha, Martha (Lonnie) and Libby (Jim), three grandchildren, Kirsten (Joe), Burns (Samantha) and Spencer, and three great-grandchildren.

 A celebration of her life will be held later this year.