Dr. Edith Betts was born on July 28, 1921 in Denver, Colorado. As a child she moved from Denver to Owyhee, Oregon and finally to Washington, D.C. where she graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase high school. Following her high school graduation, Edith attended the University of Wisconsin to pursue a teaching career. During her time at U of W, she became a member of the Honorary Society of Phi Kappa Phi in 1943.

Edith's first teaching position was at Sweet Briar College in Virginia, but with World War Two at it's peak, she decided to join the American Red Cross. She was sent to Camp Mourmelon, France from 1945 to 1946. When she returned state-side, she taught for two years at the University of Nebraska.

She then earned her a Master of Science degree in 1951, and soon after joined the University of Idaho as a faculty member. She taught at U of I for more than thirty years, during which time she earned a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in 1968. In her spare time, Edith served on professional organizations, including the International Association for Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women. Edith passed away on December 13, 2011.