In Memory

Betsy Lee

Betsy Lee

🧑🏻‍🎓🌹Elizabeth “Betsy” Le>/p>

🌹🧑🏻‍🎓Betsy Lasky Dreyfus Lee

🌹B. 7 May 1945 Hemet, CA

♥️M. 4 times used maiden name 

🌹D. 11 Feb 2025 Sunnyvale, CA

🏫 Class of ‘63

 

Betsy was very active and popular in high school. She participated in:

GAA Girls Athletic Assoc.

C.S.F. California Scholarship Federation 

Cheerleader, 

Newspaper Staff 

Annual Staff and Editor  

"East Lynne" Publicity, 

“I Remember Mama" Prompter

Daisy Chain 

Class Treasurer 

Girls' League Representative 

Variety Show 

 

Comment by Sherry Peterson Stockton:

Sorry for the late announcement but I just received the written information from Betsy's son Scott. As many of you know Betsy passed away on February 11, 2025.  She was very active in keeping this Website active.  She was a dear friend to so many.  The following is the information shared by her son.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Lee was the youngest of four children, raised by their single-mother, a WWII widow, in Hemet CA. Betsy attempted college but the yearning to travel lured her to become a flight attendant for TWA. Knowing she was too short to be accepted, Betsy placed lifts in her shoes to meet the strict height requirement. Her favorite flight was the LA to NYC route where she got to rub elbows with many celebrity passengers. She was very fond of musicians as they were always kind and shared their time with the flight crew. Actors, not so much. Anytime Betsy rolled her eyes or let out a “pffft” during a movie or TV show, you’d know she had a not-so-favorable story about that particular entertainer. Betsy did not sit back and watch the world go by, just ask any of her four ex-husbands. Her first marriage and birth of her son resulted in immediate termination from the airlines, as was the time, so a move from Southern California to San Francisco ensued. Seven years and another husband later, she found her forever home in Sunnyvale, CA and moved there in 1977. Betsy’s biggest regret was not finishing college. She applied to San Jose State University, as a 35 year old freshman, and graduated with a degree in finance. Hewlett-Packard hired her immediately and Betsy’s fondest memory was seeing Queen Elizabeth II during her tour of the Cupertino campus. What would come as no surprise to anyone that knew Betsy, she broke protocol and waved enthusiastically to the Queen and, in her words, received a mischievous smile in return. Unfortunately for her son, Scott, Betsy’s full-time career meant some family activities had to be sidelined. One of their favorites was baking cookies together. Instead of making them from scratch like they used to, Betsy would save time by baking store-bought dough. Scott disliked them and made an off-hand comment that someone should make a really good cookie dough and sell it. Betsy’s mind blossomed with possibilities. In 1983, Betsy quit her job and started Dough-to-Go, making gourmet cookie dough to be sold in grocery stores. Getting her product into stores was relatively easy because she was a natural salesperson and her personality melted the walls of even the highest executive. When asked by one grocery chain vice-president why they should consider her cookie dough, Betsy answered, “Because my mother shops here and I want her to know I have a real job”. Betsy's mother soon found her daughter's cookie dough on that store's shelves. Early success did not translate into strong sales, Dough-to-Go shifted to foodservice and co-packing. That move proved to be the right one. Listed among tech giants, Dough-to-Go was named one of the fastest growing private companies in Silicon Valley in 1995. Betsy was also awarded “Woman Business Owner of the Year” by the National Association of Women Business Owners. Today, and 2 husbands later, Betsy’s cookies can be found in hotels, restaurants and cafeterias from Hawaii to Florida under many different names and labels. Betsy was also very good at keeping those company's trade secrets to herself. If you have a sweet tooth, it is very likely you have enjoyed one of her cookies without knowing it came from her manufacturing plant in Santa Clara.

 

 

 

  



 
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06/04/25 04:31 PM #1    

Sherry Peterson (Stockton)

I do not know why the email with information about Betsy did not get emailed.  If you go to the Home Page her information is there.

Sherry


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