Betty Elizabeth Welfring

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Welfring was born December 7, 1927 in Vale, South Dakota to Delmar B. and Clara M. (Boyer) Welfring. She was the oldest of four children. As a young girl, she attended rural schools in Butte County and completed elementary school and the first two and half years of high school in Nisland, South Dakota. She attended Sturgis High School her junior year and graduated from Bennett County High School in Martin, South Dakota in1945. Betty passed away March 16, 2011, at Spearfish Regional Hospital, Spearfish, South Dakota, following a short illness. Betty worked in the Martin Post Office for 22 years, beginning her senior year in high school. In 1967, she transferred to the U.S. Forest Service n Custer, South Dakota, where she was employed in the Budget and Finance Division of the Supervisor’s Headquarters. In 1979, she transferred to the Alsea Ranger District on the Siuslaw National Forest in Oregon as the head of the Business Management Division. Betty retired in 1983 after 38 years of federal service. She returned to South Dakota in 1987 and resided in Belle Fourche until her passing. Betty was an avid bowler. In 2001, she was inducted into the South Dakota Women’s Bowling Association’s Hall of Fame in recognition of her meritorious service. She was an active member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Betty enjoyed traveling with family and friends and visited all 50 states. Betty was a member of the United Methodist Church of Belle Fourche and will be remembered for helping with numerous funeral luncheons. Following a tradition started by her cousin, Doris Beals, she also coordinated the placement of over 60 floral arrangements at several cemeteries in the northern Black Hills each Memorial Day weekend. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, brother Perry Welfring, special cousin Doris Beals and her husband Bob Beals, and brother-in-law Richard Hodson. Betty is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Garnet and Jack Audiss, Martin, South Dakota, and their children Kelly (Luella) Hodson, Osmond, Nebraska, Kevin (Kaye) Hodson, Martin, South Dakota, and Kay Cee Hodson, Pierre, South Dakota; her brother and sister-in-law Delmar Otto and Kathy Welfring, Marshalltown, Iowa, and their children Darci Kolbe (Brent Olson), Conrad, Iowa, and John Welfring, Chicago, Illinois; her step-brother and sister-in-law Denman and Leah Dirks, Custer, South Dakota, and family; her step-sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Scott Argabright, Lincoln, Nebraska, and family; her nephews Michael (Rita) Welfring, Champlin, Minnesota, Terry (Carmen) Welfring, San Jose, California, and Steven (Tena) Welfring, Boise, Idaho, and their families; special cousin Bethel Cox and her daughter Connie (Jon) Erwin and family, Lebanon, Oregon; special cousins Eric (Maureen) Beals, Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and family, Adrienne Huckins, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, and family, and Robin (John) Wilkins, El Paso, Texas; numerous other cousins; several great and great-grand nieces and nephews; and many dear friends and bowling buddies. Betty was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend and will be greatly missed. Betty’s family would like to thank the Beals family, Betty’s church “family,” and her friends and neighbors for the kindnesses they extended Betty during her many years in Belle Fourche. Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Saturday March 19th, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche, with Rev. Gail Arnold officiating. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 pm Friday at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held in Pine Slope Cemetery, in Belle Fourche. DATE OF BIRTH December 7, 1927 – Vale, South Dakota DATE OF DEATH March 16, 2011 – Spearfish, South Dakota FUNERAL SERVICE 10:30 A.M. – Saturday – March 19th, 2011 United Methodist Church Belle Fourche, South Dakota OFFICIANT Rev. Gail Arnold SPECIAL MUSIC Organist – Faith Goehring Soloist – Elaine Brubaker “On Eagle’s Wings” Cong. Hymn – “Amazing Grace” CASKETBEARERS Steven Beals                                                           John Welfring Kelly Hodson                                                  Michael Welfring Kevin Hodson                                                   Steven Welfring Rich Hodson                                                         Terry Welfring INTERMENT Pine Slope Cemetery Belle Fourche, South Dakota