Betty June Brusseau, a strong-willed and generous wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away on December 23, 2020 at the age of 88. Betty, daughter of Thelma Mills, was born on February 3, 1932 in Hornick, Iowa.  At the age of 11, she moved with her family to Sioux City, Iowa.  Following her high school graduation, she attended the University of Iowa as a proud Hawkeye. During her second year of college, she met Bernard "Bernie" Brusseau at a drive-in restaurant in Sioux City.  They immediately connected over conversation the night they met.  Soon after their initial meeting, Bernie visited her again at the drive-in.  He had gotten tar on his Hollywood hubcaps that day and told her how he needed to clean them.  In true Betty fashion, she offered to clean his hubcaps if he'd buy her a Coke. He obliged, she proceeded to clean his hubcaps with the coke, and Bernie was forever taken with her.

Bernie and Betty were married on March 26, 1951 in Jefferson, South Dakota.  After finishing her spring semester of college, Betty joined Bernie at his current East Coast Naval duty station.  They welcomed their son, Douglas, in 1952 while living in Schenectady, New York, followed by their son, Stephen, in 1953 while living in Boston, Massachusetts.  Upon discharge from the Navy, the Brusseau's moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they welcomed son, Jeffrey, in 1956 and daughter, Tania, in 1958.  Betty became passionate about the need for inclusion in the Special Education setting during this time, laying the groundwork for continued improvement in the generations to come. In 1965 the family moved to Pierre, South Dakota, where Betty shared her cooking and baking talents by leading the school lunch service.  She also indulged in her love of sporting activities by cheering on their sons at Pierre Governor football and basketball games. In 1975, they welcomed their daughter, Toni.  When Toni began school, they settled in Spearfish to raise their youngest child. They enjoyed their years in the beautiful Black Hills, spending time with many dear friends camping and waterskiing, as members of St. Joseph Catholic Church, and taking in activities at both Spearfish School District and Black Hills State University.

During their time in Spearfish, Betty was known for her delicious baked goods. She was also well-known in the community for baking cakes, caramel rolls, and buns.  Every Christmas her house overflowed with caramel rolls, Chex mix, and buckets of cookies and other sweet treats that she made and shared. Her children and grandchildren will always remember her ability to make Christmas feel special.   Betty's love of baking was matched by her talents for sewing, knitting, and crocheting.  The many blankets, quilts, hooded towels, home decor, dresses, infant hats, and doll clothes and accessories that she made and gifted to others, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, will continue to be cherished for years to come.  Of special significance are the baptismal and holiday dresses and baby blankets that she made for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Betty and Bernie enjoyed traveling upon retirement and often took trips recommended by their daughter, Tania.  New Zealand was on the top of their list along with several cruises to the Hawaiian Islands, an intriguing cruise through the Panama Canal with their son, Steve, and a family cruise to Alaska.  Her grandchildren each fondly recall visiting Disney World with Betty and Bernie.

When not baking, sewing, traveling, or cheering on a sports team, Betty could be found reading a book, completing all types of puzzles including crossword puzzles and sudoku, catching up with friends online, and collecting coffee mugs and birdhouses.

In 2017, after several decades in the Spearfish community, Betty and Bernie moved to Erie, Colorado, where they could more regularly attend their youngest granddaughters' activities.  Betty proudly shuttled the girls between activities and school and cherished this time with her granddaughters. She and Bernie especially enjoyed attending the girls' sporting events, where they took on the role of "team grandparents" to many of the girls' teams. In addition to cheering on the teams, Betty continued to share her baking and cooking talents by serving team dinners.

While Betty was a proud supporter of many athletic teams, nothing compared to the extreme pride she felt about her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her greatest joy in life was to share about her family, especially her grandchildren and their successes.

Betty got the absolute most out of life, celebrating and living each and every year to its fullest, routinely involved in the lives of those she loved.  She was smitten with Bernie, loving him and sharing her life with him through almost 70 years of marriage.  Betty was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by those who knew her.  She is survived by her loving husband, Bernie Brusseau; her sons Doug (Jan) Brusseau of Elk Point, SD, Stephen Brusseau of Erie, CO, and Jeff (Lori) Brusseau of Pierre, SD; her daughters Tania Brusseau and Toni (Craig) Whitlock both of Erie, CO; grandchildren Desirée (Troy) Hokeness: Carson, Emerson, & Addisyn, Sara Brusseau: Abby, Chris (Brooke) Brusseau: Ella, Owen, & Elin, Jaime Brusseau, Caitlin (Heath) Rousseau, Tyler, Téa & Navi Whitlock; brother Clarence (Nancy) Miller; and sister Joanne Humphrey.  Betty was preceded in death by her mother, Thelma Mills; brothers Edwin (Giz) Miller and Bob Miller; sister-in-law Betty Lou Miller; brother-in-law Al Humphrey; and great grandson Landon Hokeness.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels of Spearfish, SD.  The family will have a small private service held on Saturday, January 16 ^th , 2021.  A rosary will be held by the Knights of Columbus at 10 am and the funeral service officiated by Father Robert Wedow at 10:30 am at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Erie, CO.  Friends and family can join via Zoom using the following link.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87027443219?pwd=dDd6MXQ5cmtoS28xMU5xNFhYMm5BZz09

Password: 074530

The family plans to hold a second service to celebrate her life in the spring or summer in Spearfish, SD where she will be buried at the Rose Hill Cemetery.

A memorial has been set up with a cause that Betty would be honored to have supported.  An organization that supports both her love of sports and the support of people with intellectual disabilities.  The Spearfish Peaks Special Olympics, South Dakota.  You can make a donation in her name in the special instructions section at the link below. http://www.specialolympicsspearfish.com/take-action