Betty Bills, age 87

Betty Bills

Well Mom, you were always going to hit the “Big Jackpot” and we feel you did when you entered heaven on May 23, 2017. Your final outing was up to the beautiful Black Hills which you always loved.
 
Betty was born in Custer, S.D. Jan. 24, 1930, to John “Frank” Klosterman and Gladys (Herdman) Klosterman. Betty attended one year of school at Red Top in Viewfield, then attended New Underwood School and graduated in 1947.
 
Betty rotated working at First Western Bank in New Underwood and Wall for a few years, even after she met and married George L. Bills Aug. 22, 1951. Betty and her brother, Kenny, bought a 1948 Chev car together which they took turns using. Kenny then bought a new car in 1949, so Betty then owned her own vehicle for the first time.
 
Betty loved to go up into the Black Hills; she climbed Crazy Horse numerous times. She was a natural born tourist. She and George enjoyed bowling, square dancing, and traveling. She enjoyed going to Deadwood in her later years. She visited Hawaii, enjoyed a cruise to Venezuela, sightseeing in at least 40 of the states. She was always planning her next trip!
 
Together Betty and George worked hard, saved their money and bought the farm they both loved, and resided on, in 1959. Betty worked alongside George hauling cream in cans from the local dairies which were loaded onto the train in New Underwood. In 1954, they progressed to hauling milk in bulk tanks to the processing plant in Rapid City. Betty drove that milk truck with the best of them for many years. Later they started a dairy and she raised numerous bucket calves, chickens, and helped with all the chores and enjoyed doing so. Mom was not afraid of hard work. Her mother, Gladys, took care of us kids while mom was hauling milk until Grandma's health failed.
 
George and Betty had three children, Pamela Jean, Roger Jon, Russell Wayne, and step-son, LaVern Oliver (Karen) Bills.
 
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, George, Sept. 21, 2016; her parents; brothers, Kenneth and Lyle (Buzzy); and step-granddaughter, Samantha.
 
She is survived by her children, Pamela Jean (Don) Cox, Russell Wayne Bills, and Roger Jon (Tammy) Bills; grandchildren, Hilary Bills (Andrew) Whelan, Wyatt Lavern Bills, and Keoni Mae Bills; great-granddaughter, Harper Grace Whelan; step-grandchildren, Riley (Sheila) Walker, Tyler (Angela) Walker and Phil Kirk; great-stepgrandsons, Trevin and Cohen; sister, Mary Mooney; brother, Frank (Junior) Klosterman; brother-in-law, Richard (Mush) Bills; nieces, nephews, and friends.
 
Words cannot express our gratitude to Brett Hanson “the Good Son” and Paul Skorseth “Too Tall” for the beautiful hand-crafted casket as Betty's final resting haven. A special thank you, Trudy Brassfield, for again making the inside with the life mom knew and loved.
 
Memorials can be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital or the Sami Jo Pool.
 
If you should happen to feel the ground shake a little, it is not an earthquake, just Mom and Dad pushing each other’s buttons and arguing. Picking up where they left off last September!
 
Celebration of Life for Betty was Saturday, May 27, 2017, at the Bridle for Christ Baptist Church in New Underwood, officiated by Pastor Larry Schell. 
 
Burial was at New Underwood Cemetery beside her husband of 65 years.

The Pioneer Review

221 E. Oak Street
Philip, SD 57567
Telephone: (605) 859-2516
E Mail: ads@pioneer-review.com

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