Betty Glennie died in Cairns, Australia, on 31 March 2003. She collapsed during a social function at the home of friends and died in hospital several days later without regaining consciousness.

Born in Dunedin, the only daughter of eye, ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Ken Ross, Dr Glennie graduated MB ChB in 1942 from Aberdeen University Medical School. She had originally enrolled in Home Science at Otago University but later accompanied her elder brother Ken to Aberdeen, where their father had graduated.

She married Dr Harry Glennie in 1940 and had two sons. She worked as a GP in London during the latter part of World War II and returned to New Zealand with her sons in 1949 and commenced general practice in Ranfurly. There she married Stewart Bennison who died some years ago.

In 1951, the family moved to Christchurch and Dr Glennie worked at Sunnyside Psychiatric Hospital, and at the Department of Health from 1954 until she retired in 1987. She was made a life member of the Family Life Education Council, where she was instrumental in setting up Family Life Education in schools. She was very involved in health education and was a popular speaker. She served on the Health Camp Council and was very involved in family planning, becoming a life member of the NZ Family Planning Association.

On retirement, she moved to Brisbane to be with her son Kenneth and later moved to Cairns and her older son Henry, an ear, nose and throat specialist. In her Otago University days Betty won a tennis blue, and in later years she was an enthusiastic golfer and an accomplished bridge player.

She was a very kind, thoughtful, generous, caring person and a good listener. As a result, she was highly respected and valued for her work, help and advice. She was a wonderful friend and will be sadly missed.

She is survived by her two sons, her grandchildren and great grandchildren.