Betty Jane Nolan Babcock

Betty Jane Nolan Babcock of the Onondaga Nation Snipe Clan passed away at 101 years old on June 9, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 22nd, 1923, on the Onondaga Nation. Betty is predeceased by her loving husband of 62 years, Milton (Sam) W. Babcock; her sisters Madeline (Honyoust) and Maxine (Gonnella); her brothers Leo II, Bernard, John, and Oscar (Jimmy); and her son-in-law Joseph C. King (Darlene). She is survived by her daughter, Darlene Schenandoah King; her granddaughter and caregiver, Betty (Sid Hill) Lyons; her grandson, Erik J. (Miranda) Sorensen; great-grandsons Garrett Lyons, Sid Hill Jr., Nolan Sorensen; great-granddaughters Rebecca and Mira Sorensen; many nieces and nephews; and so many friends.

Betty is the daughter of Leo and Louise (Gibson) Nolan and a citizen of the Onondaga Nation, Snipe Clan. At 16, Betty assumed the responsibility of being the primary caretaker for her six siblings after her parents passed away. For many years, she was a dedicated employee of Smith Corona in Syracuse, New York. Betty kept her family together and was the family matriarch of our family. 

Betty was also one of the founders of the Onondaga Nation Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary in charge of raising much needed funds for the fire department to exist. For 27 years, Betty and her loving husband, Milton (Sam) W. Babcock, owned and operated Babcock’s Inn in Cardiff, New York, which became the site for many wedding receptions, clam bakes, Easter egg hunts, Friday fish fries, Sunday dinners, Rotary Club meetings, and family celebrations. Betty excelled in her role as ‘lead chef’ and impressed us with the quality of her jukebox music. She gave many of us employment and taught us how to derive enjoyment from hard work and jobs well done. She inspired us to achieve, and we are extraordinarily grateful to her for the high expectations she had of us. Betty made so many of us better.     

Calling Hours will be Tuesday, June 11th, from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Ballweg and Lunsford  Funeral Home in LaFayette, NY. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 12th at 9:30 am at the  Funeral Home in LaFayette, NY. Procession for burial will follow to Onondaga Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.ballweg-lunsford.com