Betty Ann "Bets" Legans, passed peacefully at home on December 31, 2020, after 83 years of shining her bright light on this earth. She was born on August 23, 1937 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Mary and Verling Sawyer and spent the last 55 years
living in her Land of Enchantment - Albuquerque.
She married her husband, James "Jim" Legans in 1956 and they shared a beautiful 58 years together. They were the proud parents of one daughter, Mary Jane Legans and three sons, James "Jim Legans Jr., Thomas "Tom" Legans and Raymond "Ray" Legans.
She devoted her life to caring for others as was her nature. In addition to her own children, she loved and helped raise many others and came to be known as Mom, Grandma and Auntie to so many who adored her.
She also saved many lives through the gift of blood and platelet donation. Through her efforts she was the first in United Blood Services New Mexico history to reach the 300 donation mark for platelets and was the President of the "200 Pheresis" Club. In 2007 a local feature of her accomplishments quoted her as saying "It's part of my life, It's a worthy thing to do and people need platelets."
Betty Ann is known far and wide across the USA with friends and family strewn across, whom she regularly took the opportunity to travel and visit. Known as "Lead foot Legans", traveling was her passion and she took many along for the ride-most notably her beloved co-pilot, Mary Jane who shared many adventures with her. Her most recent grand adventure at 80 years old, took her on a drive over 10,000 miles for a duration of three months - just she and her teacup size dog, Tildy, visiting loved ones.
Betty Ann will be cherished forever and missed by many. In addition to her surviving brother, Mike and wife, Jimmy, she leaves her sons, Tom, Ray and Jim and his wife Jaye. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren and the many other loved ones she adopted into her heart.
She was predeceased by her husband, Jim; parents, Mary and Verling and daughter Mary Jane.
She will be laid to rest with her husband, daughter and parents at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers. Donations can made to the Church she served at faithfully for many years - Ridgecrest Christian Church of Albuquerque, 5300 Eastern Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.