Betsey Vickery Kneeland

Topsham- Betsey Vickery Kneeland passed away with her family by her side on August 13, 2025.

She was born in Greenville Maine on January 24th, 1956, the daughter of Phyllis and Earl Vickery. Betsey had a lifelong passion for education, beginning in her early childhood when she taught neighborhood friends reading skills. She graduated from Sterns High School in Millinocket Maine in 1974 and was the third generation of her family to attend the University of Maine Orono where she received a BS in Education in 1978.

After college, she moved to Princeton Maine where she taught Special Education at The Indian Township School in Indian Twp from 1978 to 1980. On November 8th, 1979, she went on her first date with the love of her life, Dale Kneeland. They married on February 14, 1981, and were married for 44 years. On March 9, 1984, the joy of her life happened when their daughter Martha was born. She taught special education at Woodland Elementary School from 1980 until she retired in 2015. Betsey loved her years at Woodland Elementary where she made many lifelong friends. She earned a Masters of Special Education at University of Maine Orono in 1987 and a Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina in 2005.

After retirement, she lived in her dream home on Meddybemps Lake in Alexander Maine. In 2017, she and Dale moved to The Highlands in Topsham, Maine to be near Martha and Doctors to treat her Multiple Sclerosis. She was a member of the Book Look group at The Highlands and read several books a year in that group and loved attending the events and activities offered at The Highlands. In addition to being a lifelong avid reader, she loved to sew, bake, paint, birdwatch, research her family genealogy, and spend time with Martha. She loved to go to lunch with her special friends, Anne Hamilton, Margaret Huber, Ellie McCracken, and Sally Belisle. She was a member of St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Brunswick Maine. It was her favorite place to be. Betsey was the most kind, selfless, supportive, and loving wife and mother a person could be blessed to have.

Betsey is survived by her husband of 44 years Dale Kneeland, her daughter Martha Kneeland-Manning and husband David Manning, sisters Earleen Lozen and Priscilla Bard, brother Jim Vickery and wife his Debbie, brother Dennis Vickery, and dear family friend Vaughn Bouchard, brothers in-law and sisters-in law, Cheryl Amber, Bonnie and Andy Slater, Cindy Bailey, David Kneeland, Ella Kneeland, and Bradley Bailey. She adored her many nieces and nephews.

Betsey was predeceased by her parents Phyllis and Earl Vickery, her mother and father-in-law Ida and Norman Kneeland, her brother-in-law Norman Kneeland, and her brother in-law Robert Amber.

Betsey's Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick on Saturday, Augusta 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM. Immediately following Mass there will be a luncheon at the Church. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Topsham at 1:00 PM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Betsey's memory can be made to the National MS Society or the American Civil Liberties Union.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Stetson's Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 12 Federal Street, Brunswick, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Stetson's Funeral Home website, www.stetsonsfuneralhome.com