She was a quiet but powerful force in American history, someone whose life bridged generations and reshaped how the nation understands its past. Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest serving ranger in the National Park Service at the time of her retirement, passed away peacefully at the age of 104. Her family shared that she left this world fulfilled and surrounded by love, leaving behind a legacy rooted in service, education, and truth.

Soskin officially retired from the National Park Service in 2022 at age 100, yet her impact extended far beyond her years in uniform. Remarkably, she did not begin working with the Park Service until her eighties. She played a key role in shaping the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, ensuring that the stories of African Americans and other overlooked communities were included in the narrative of World War II.