Bette Christofferson Aaberg died Saturday, May 25, 2013, at the Dorsett Home in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Bette was born May 30, 1929, at the Christofferson farm home near Redwater River between Spearfish and Belle Fourche to Abel and Sigrid Thompson Christofferson. She rode her horse to the one-room Chicken Creek School, which she attended until the Training School (later the Laboratory School) opened at Black Hills Teachers College. She graduated from Spearfish High School, Class of 1947.

Bette spent a summer as a nanny for the Nash (grocery chain) family in Minnetonka, Minnesota. She was a cook at Latch String Inn in Spearfish Canyon and the Bodega in Deadwood. She began college at Black Hills State University, then transferred to South Dakota State University, majoring in nutrition science. Queen of the SDSU Military Ball, Bette was elected the "Number One Beauty" in the 1951 Jackrabbit yearbook.

At SDSU Bette met and married Jackrabbit basketball star David Aaberg. After his graduation, they lived in Moose Lake, Minnesota, Vale, South Dakota, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and North Platte, Nebraska, where David taught science and American history, and loved coaching high school athletic teams, particularly track and field. They had three children, Krystyn, Wayne, and John.

After a divorce, Bette completed her degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney where she earned membership in the academic honor society Kappa Delta Pi. She established an in-home assistance business and delivered services to elderly clients in Omaha but retained her North Platte house and frequently returned to it from Omaha.

Bette loved to travel and made trips to Hawaii, staying on the beach in Barbers Point on Oahu, touring Washington, D.C. and southern Maryland and the Florida Panhandle, and visiting her son Wayne and family.

In 2004, declining health and fading vision forced Bette's retirement and relocation to Spearfish. Her sister Darlene gave Bette care and comfort beyond measure. Brothers Larry and Bob Christofferson assisted in managing her finances and transporting her for medical services. Bette's family thanks hospice social worker Karen Bridges, hospice nurse Mavis Jewitt, Bette's neighbor Lillian Roark, Dr. Forrest Brady, and the Hickory House staff for giving assistance, care and comfort.

Bette's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are Krystyn Aaberg, Greenville, NC; Dr. Wayne Aaberg, (LCDR Commander, U.S. Navy Retired), Gulfport, MS; and John Aaberg, Chappell, NE; grandchildren, Shelby (Laura), Scottsbluff, NE; Sean (Christine), Kaneohe, HI; Jessica Aaberg Paakaula, Gulf Breeze, FL; Erika Aaberg Bierbower (Josh), Iola, WI; and Kiersten and David Aaberg, Navarre FL; and great-grandchildren, Allison Aaberg and Kailani Anne Paakaula.

Her siblings are: sisters, Darlene Evans, Spearfish, and the late Eileen Tallent; and brothers, the late Harry II, Robert, Merlyn, Allen and David, Spearfish, Richard (Helen), Plover, WI, Donald (Judy), Stapleton, NE, the late Norman; Jerry (Joanne), Black Hawk, Larry, Rapid City, and Keith and Harry III, Deaver, WY.

Bette's will is that her body go to the university medical school.

A memorial service will be held later.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Hospice of the Northern Hills, 1440 North Main Street, Spearfish, SD 57783.