Funeral services for Beth Winter, age 92, of Sturgis, SD, formerly of Lemmon, SD will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 27, 2010 at Calvary Lutheran Church. Pastor Ken Miller will officiate with burial at Greenhill Cemetery.

Elizabeth Mae Lighthall Winter passed away peacefully with her family by her side on August 23, 2010 at Senior Care in Sturgis South Dakota.

Beth was born on October 17, 1917 to George and Lottie Lighthall in Andover, South Dakota. Shortly after they moved to Condi, South Dakota. Later in her early childhood they moved to their permanent farm south of Keldron, South Dakota. She graduated from Lemmon High School and then attended Aberdeen Teacher College and received a teaching certificate.

Beth married Daniel Winter on March 13, 1941. They lived and worked side by side on the Winter homestead 9 ½ miles south of Morristown, South Dakota for 47 years. Dan and Beth showed Shorthorn cattle at livestock shows in Chicago and Denver, with Beth's father, George Lighthall.

Early in their marriage three bachelors lived with Dan and Beth. They took turns cooking meals on a varied schedule. Whenever Beth cooked the pancakes the dog would not eat the left over pancakes. This was the starting point for a very important "Winter" family tradition.

Beth taught school at two country schools in the community. Teaching was one of her true loves. She was a member of Eastern Star, Royal Neighbors, Whitedeer Neighbors, Bethel Lutheran Church and was a 4-H leader.

Beth and Dan loved life as was indicated by many of their "social activities" with the fearless foursome. In their later years they played golf, bridge and of course loved to dance. She delighted in putting on a Halloween spook house for the community children.

When the grown children would return home for the holidays, Beth would always prepare a large breakfast making sure there would always be left over pancakes. After breakfast when everyone was deep in discussion around the table, Beth would discreetly pick up a left over pancake and throw it in someone's face. Thus the "pancake wars" would begin. This tradition was carried through to grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In 1994 several years after Dan's death Beth moved to Piedmont, South Dakota to be closer to her daughter, Anita. In 2005 she moved into Summerset Assisted Living in Rapid City and then a year and a half ago she moved into the Senior Care Facility in Sturgis.

Beth had a full life, loved her family deeply and had an incredible sense of humor.

Proud to have shared her life are her son, David Winter of Denver Colorado; daughters, Anita (Skip) Abell of Piedmont, South Dakota, and Cindy Lord of Covington, Georgia; seven grandchildren: Karen Sherman, Mickie Abell, Darrin Winter, Pam Biers, Dwayne Winter, Bub Abell, and Jackie Lord; twelve great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one sister, Eunice Wanstedt.

Visitation will be on Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.