Bonnie (Preheim) Betts, 92

Bonnie (Preheim) Betts passed away on Nov. 7 at the Good Samaritan Home in Sioux Falls. A visitation and viewing will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at Walter’s Funeral Home in Freeman, with a prayer service at 7 p.m..

My Story

I was born on April 16, 1932, to Julius and Alma (Gering) Preheim on a farm southeast of Freeman, SD. I was a happy child, living with my devoted parents and enjoying the farm animals. Very early I learned to love cats and this love remained the rest of my life.

Formal education was country school, Freeman Academy, and one year teachers training at the Junior College. I taught country school for 5 years. Also during these years I married Clifford Olson and became the mother of Wesley Olson. We lived on the Olson farm near Bridgewater until 1962. We then moved to Mitchell, where I remained for 24 years as a housewife and a stay at home mom.

When Wesley entered Jr. High I took a full time job working for the Ellwein Bottling Company for 6 years. Afterwards I took a job in the mall, selling clothing for Herbergers and Four Seasons for the next 10 years. When both stores left Mitchell I worked for Snyder Drug for two years.

In 1986 I married Vernon Betts and moved to Sioux Falls. I immediately helped him with his Betts Auto Accessory business. I loved traveling with him in the truck to the towns in his territory. We also enjoyed serveral trips together. Especially the trips to Europe in 1990 and Israel in 1991. When Vernon passed away in 1994 I retired.

Preceding me in death were my parents, Vernon, and my son Wesley.