Betty Steinkolk, BHS Principal

Betty Steinkolk, BHS Principal

March 18, 1928 - June 06, 2009 Valley Center, CA

Memorial Service: 10:00 a.m. June 20, 2009 at St Stephen's Catholic Church, 31020 Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center Interment: , at Beaver Creek, Minnesota Betty had no children. She leaves her husband of 44 years, Richard Steinkolk, one surviving sibling, her brother Donald, in Occoquan, Virginia; and numerous nephews and nieces scattered throughout the United States.

She was officially born Elizabeth Jean Ohs in Owatonna, Minnesota on March 18, 1928, the daughter of Merle and Emma Ohs. She had naturally bright red hair and a temper to match. She was the 4th child of a family with six children. Betty never liked her given name of Elizabeth and renamed herself Betty Jean Ohs.

She was reared in Little Falls Minnesota where she attended the local public schools. She graduated with a degree in teaching from the University of Minnesota in Saint Cloud and taught elementary school in Minnesota for three years before moving to Southern California. She received her Masters degree at Cal State Northridge and also a California reading specialist credential.

She initially taught in Redondo Beach, CA for a year, but didn't like the damp coastal climate. She then applied for a teaching job with the Burbank Unified School District. When she was in a group interviewing session she answered the following question "what was the best thing you did last year" with the retort "I taught a non-reader to read". She was hired on the spot. Betty was a teacher, principal and administrator for the next 34 years until she retired.

She substituted after retirement as a temporary acting principal for various schools, including a full year stretch as the principal of Burbank High School. She married her husband Richard in 1965. They resided in Sherman Oaks for the next 34 years before moving to Valley Center. They purchased property in Valley Center in 1976, developed an avocado and orange grove, built their "dream house" and finally moved to VC in 1999.

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