Betsy Orman

In Loving Memory of Betsy Orman

Betsy Orman, born on February 11, 1954, in Los Angeles, California, passed away peacefully on August 1st, 2024, after a courageous 10-year battle with breast cancer. A devoted wife, mother, sister, and friend, Betsy leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and unwavering faith that touched the lives of all who knew her.

Betsy was the daughter of Richard and Ruth Halpert, the sister of Lewis Halpert, and the identical twin sister of Edy Iversen. Her journey through life was marked by a deep spiritual search that began at the age of 16. After a challenging childhood, Betsy sought a place of goodness and found it in the mountains of Hawaii, where she lived an ascetic lifestyle for three years.

At 22, Betsy’s spiritual journey led her to the Unification Movement, where she was profoundly inspired by the teachings of Rev. Drs. Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han Moon. These teachings guided her toward a life of personal transformation and adventures across America.

In 1979, Betsy met her future husband, Larry, at a matching ceremony in New York, where they were paired by Rev. Moon. The following year, they were blessed in marriage at Madison Square Garden. Betsy, a lively Jewish woman from Los Angeles, and Larry, a quiet Midwesterner from North Dakota, together embarked on a mission to build a loving and ideal family.

The couple made their home in Northern Virginia, where Betsy played a pivotal role as the Special Projects Director at the Mid-Atlantic Regional HQ. Her work in educating leaders on freedom, faith, and family reached over 30,000 people, and she was instrumental in bringing character education into local schools.

After nine years, the Ormans moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where they raised their twins, Sam and Virginia. Betsy continued her service as the state director for the American Family Coalition, educating leaders on political, religious, and community issues, extending her outreach globally.  She also lobbied to help create National Parent’s Day.

In 2002, the family relocated to Connecticut, where Betsy returned to college, earning her degree summa cum laude in her 50s and later a master’s in counseling in her 60s. As a professor, she created a curriculum to help students succeed in life. She also wrote a weekly newspaper column, “For Your Inspiration”, which provided parenting education throughout the region. Together with her husband and children for sixteen years, they created a refuge in their home for students from all over the world and watched the University of Bridgeport thrive.

The Ormans moved to Lorman, Mississippi, in 2020, where Larry became Vice President for Marketing and Communication at Alcorn State University. Despite facing health challenges, Betsy remained a steadfast supporter of the university and used this time to complete her memoir, The Pathway to Peace, Hope, and True Love: A Spiritual Journey.

Betsy expressed deep gratitude for the support and guidance she received throughout her life, particularly from the Unification Church leaders and members. She felt blessed by the love and support of her family, including her husband Larry, her children Sam and Virginia, her sister Edy Martin-Prevel, and her brother Lewis Halpert. Betsy leaves behind a legacy of service and intends to continue her mission in the spiritual world.

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