Betty Ann Davis, 87, Spearfish, South Dakota, died Friday, July 30, 2010.
Memorial services are scheduled for Friday, August 6, 2010, at 10:30 AM, at the Spearfish United Methodist Church with Pastor Dar Berkenpas officiating. A private family burial will be held at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota.
Memorials have been established in lieu of flowers to the Spearfish United Methodist Church, the Spearfish Senior Citizens Center, and the Northern Hills Hospice.
Betty Ann Davis was born on May 19, 1923 at her parent's, Mary Belle (Luker) and Thomas C. Dye's Bowman, North Dakota family farm. She attended Wilson School through the eighth grade and graduated from Bowman High School, working for her room and board during her high school years. Her favorite subject was bookkeeping. Proud of this skill, she talked fondly of her bookkeeping work for the Bowman County Farmers Union and later in her life returned to it for a short time for one of the Ainsworth companies.
Betty married Gerald W. Davis on December 24, 1943, and although a hometown church wedding was planned, WWII interceded, and they were married at San Antonio, Texas as Gerald was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston and had received overseas orders. The justice that married them commented that of the myriad of marriages that he performed involving service men and women, Gerald and Betty were the only hometown sweethearts that he married. They were blessed with forty-six years of marriage.
After the war, Gerald and Betty continued farming purchasing first the Thomas C. Dye place and added other farmland. Betty worked the farm side-by-side with her husband. This included not only her wifely duties, but driving a tractor and combine as well. Adding joy were the births of three daughters. Two, Shirley Ann (1947) and Darlene Kaye (1952) were born when they lived in North Dakota. After moving to Spearfish, SD in 1956, the family was completed in 1958 with the arrival of Geraldine Mae. Commuter farming allowed them to enjoy the gleaming North Dakota wheat fields and the majestic Black Hills, each adding their own beauty and richness to their lives. This allowed them to see North Dakota family and friends as well as adding the bounty of South Dakota friends.
An active member of the Spearfish United Methodist Church, Betty served through United Methodist Women sharing her baking, cooking, and hands innumerable times throughout her Spearfish years until fairly recent times. When the girls were younger, she was Sunday School secretary. Later, she shared her bookkeeping talent as church treasurer for a number of years.
Membership in Home Extension Club and Knitting/Sewing club and more recently her years in the Spearfish Senior Center were avenues for friendships and service. She enjoyed the conversations, card playing, and opportunities to lend a helping hand in fund raising activities.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Gerald W. Davis, her parents, her sisters Annabelle Abrahamson and Jessie Fandrick, and her brother Lawrence Dye.
Survivors include her three daughters and their families:
Shirley (Bill) Povandra of Spearfish, son Brian (Ashley) Povandra, and grandson Braiden.
Darlene (Ray) Telkamp, Spearfish residents, sons Lee (Kristin) Telkamp, granddaughter Jessica and grandsons Joe, Simon, Kelby, and Henry; Scott (Carolyn) Telkamp and grandson Josh; Chris (Marni) Telkamp and grandson Brock; and daughter Betty (Daniel) McKellar and grandchildren Maggie and Ryan.
Geraldine (Rex) Keller, son Brent and daughter Kimberly reside in Sioux Falls.
Betty is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Online condolences may be sent at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.