Betty DeMarteleare, 88, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Elkton, South Dakota, passed away on January 10, 2019, at her home while under hospice care.
Betty Lou DeMarteleare was born on June 29, 1930, in Flandreau to George and Henrietta (Duin) Hegerfeld. Throughout her childhood, she lived just outside of Elkton and graduated from Elkton High School in 1948.
On May 24, 1948, Betty married Melvin DeMarteleare in Elkton, and together they had 6 children: Georgia, David, Michelle, Keith, Kevin, and Pennie. Betty worked at the Knotty Pine Supper Club for 20 years.
Betty had many great joys in life, but she especially cherished time spent with her family and friends laughing and having fun. Her quick wit and sense of humor instantly made her the life of any party. Betty was also an avid reader, and could often be found enjoying several books at once, as well as completing circle-a-word puzzles.
Betty is survived by her six children: Georgia (Dean) Lang, of Gillette, WY, David (Diane) DeMarteleare, of Elkton, Michelle Stuefen, of Elkton, Keith (Linda) DeMarteleare, of Lake Preston, Kevin DeMarteleare, of Sioux Falls, and Pennie (Tom) Skime, of Elkton; one sister, Mildred Vaske, of Brookings; one sister-in-law Janet Houston, of Peoria, IL; 20 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and her dog, Helix, whom she affectionately referred to as her “Little Bubba.”
She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin; parents George and Henrietta Hegerfeld; grandson Travis Stuefen; granddaughter Monica Moss; grandson Dave Rearick; and a brother-in-law Herb Vaske.
