Funeral services for Betty Hay, age 61, of Lemmon will be 10:00am Monday, June 6, at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lemmon. Pastor Frank Gantt will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery.

A family service will be held at 5:00pm on Sunday at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Special music will be provided by Barry Hay, organist. Serving as casket bearers are Clint Sperle, Thomas Moe, Dean and Anthony Larson, Chuck Christman, and Jeff Haase. All friends and co-workers are considered honorary bearers.


A memorial has been established to St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church.


Betty Lorraine Sperle was born on January 26, 1944 to Albert and Martha (Kolb) Sperle at Lemmon, SD. She was baptized on May 21, 1944 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Drew, SD. Betty was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on June 9, 1957 at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bison, SD. She grew up on her family's farm near Bison.


After graduating from Bison High School in 1961, she attended National Business College in Rapid City, SD. Betty was then employed at the FHA office in Bison for a time.


On March 10, 1965, Betty was united in marriage to Leonard Hay of Lemmon at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church. For many years she was a stay at home mom. After her children were all in school, Betty worked at several part-time jobs including bookkeeper at Peterson's Implement and Valley Motor Supply. In 1987, she began working full-time in the shipping department of Wheeler Manufacturing where she had worked up until her recent illness. Betty enjoyed her job to the fullest and cherished the friendships she had with her co-workers.


In March, Betty was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer. After receiving radiation treatments in Rapid City, the Lord blessed her with some very enjoyable days at home with her family. One of Betty's final prayers, to be in the arms of Jesus, was answered in the early hours of June 2.


Church was a very important part of Betty's life. She was an active member of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church and she participated in the activities of St. Luke's Ladies Aid. Betty's hobbies included quilting, scrap-booking, gardening and baking. She was a faithful and loving wife, mother and sister for her family, and a fun-loving and compassionate friend to many.


Betty is survived by her husband Leonard, three sons – Monte (fiancée Brenda) of Madison, SD; Barry of Markesan, WI; and Jamie of Lemmon; three sisters – Arlene (Norman) Moe of Regent, ND; Ann Jacobson of Springfield, OR; and Renee (Lowell) Haggart of Lemmon; two brothers – Herbert (Mel) Sperle of Delores, CO; and Bob Sperle of Bison, SD; numerous nieces, nephews, special friends and relatives.


She was preceded in death by her parents, brother-in-law Leland Jacobson, and sister-in-law Carol Sperle.


Visitation will be Sunday 1:00 to 9:00 pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home and on Monday one hour prior to services at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lemmon.


Condolences may be sent to the family through our website at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com.