Her parents were Gerche Reimers Jahn and Anton Stephan Stephansen and, if the names 'Mary Ann Elizabeth' sound very English for a Norwegian girl, this is easily explained since she was named after her maternal grandmother who was indeed English and named Mary Ann Elizabeth Lockwood. Betzy's father Anton Stephansen first worked in the manufacturing business, then as a salesman before deciding to open his own business.
Ang kanyang mga magulang ay Gerche Reimers Jahn at Anton Stephan Stephansen at, kung ang mga pangalan 'Mary Ann Elizabeth' sound very English Norwegian para sa isang batang babae, ito ay madaling maipaliwanag dahil siya ay pinangalanang matapos ang kanyang ina lola na sa katunayan ay English at pinangalanan Mary Ann Elizabeth Lockwood . Betzy's ama Anton Stephansen unang nagtrabaho sa pagmamanupaktura ng negosyo, at pagkatapos, bilang isang tindero bago ang pagpapasiya upang buksan ang kanyang sariling negosyo.