Betty Jean Cousino, 78, residing in Henderson, Nevada, passed away September 16, 2009 at St. Rose Siena
Hospital.
She was born in Fostoria, Ohio to Gladys Matthews Zeigler and William Zeigler January 2, 1931. She
attended Fostoria High, graduating in 1949 with a concentration in bookkeeping and secretarial skills.
She married Ivan "Deed" Tyson in September, 1949. They had one daughter, Kristina Craig of
Jacksonville, North Carolina and three sons, Ivan of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Terry of
Quinton, Virginia, and Timothy of Woodland Hills, California. In 1967 she married Ralph Cousino and had
one daughter, Suzanne Whitaker of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Betty, during her school years, enjoyed singing with the choir and writing poetry. An avid reader and
poetry writer, Betty was named the first prize winner in the Fostoria Women’s Club poetry contest in
1949 for her poem entitled "The Locket," and was named the girl with the prettiest eyes in her
senior graduating class.
After graduation, Betty held administrative assistant positions with the Ohio Power Company and
Orrtronics, Inc. Betty spent the majority of her adult years as a homemaker and raising her five
children.
Following is a poem that Betty wrote in June, 1992 entitled, "The Future":
"You ask me where the future leads, I cannot say for sure. But certain am I of its course, which we
shall all endure. Where does the wild goose fly in its ever searching quest? It looks for that haven
safe to make its homebound nest.
"You ask me where the future leads for those of us earthbound? We are to dream so far ahead of
vistas not yet found. As the wild goose in flight does seek that haven serene and calm, Our journey
surely also strives to ease our every qualm.
"You ask me where the future leads. One thing for sure I know. We sail for home beyond the pale, for
God has told us so. The doubts our souls’ suspect we seek to solve and satisfy. While seers and peers so
often heard, spiel answers from on high.
"You ask me where the future leads. We have each day at most. We ask for guidance as we go, toward
that far off coast. But if a secret you consent to hear, I can tell you of what I’m sure. We live today
and yesterday, and shall tomorrow reappear.
"Don’t ask me where the future leads. Each must find his way. And at our own arrival know the debt
we must repay. The knowledge leads to certainty in that final flight. We finally find the answers in
God’s everlasting might."
A memorial service is planned for November 1 at the Valley of Fire in Overton, Nevada.
The family requests any memorials be sent to the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library in Fostoria, 205 Perry
Street, Fostoria, Ohio, 44830-2265. Please make a note on the donation that is in memoriam of Betty Jean
Cousino.
Betty is survived by her sister, Janice Baker-Applegett, daughters Kristina Craig and Suzanne Whitaker
(David), sons Ivan, Terry and Timothy (Jean) Tyson, stepsons Brent (Pam) and Craig, 10 grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
