Betty Marlene Eilts

Betty Eilts, 85, of Spencer, SD, passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater. Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM Friday, December 12, at First Baptist Church in Emery, SD. Burial will be at Emery Community Cemetery in Emery, SD. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

A live stream of Betty's funeral service can be viewed at: https://youtube.com/@fbcemery2139?si=ksVFKUJyP4PgmQCj

Betty Marlene Heronimus was born on March 20, 1940, to Hie and Margaret (Janssen) Heronimus. She was born in the farmhouse on the NW corner of Hwys 38 & 25. Betty graduated from Farmer High School in May 1958 and married the love of her life, Melvin Eilts, on June 7, 1958. Betty was baptized, confirmed, and married at St. Paul's Presbyterian church in Emery. She was a member of St. Paul's at the time of her death. She played the piano at St. Paul's for many years.

Betty and Melvin had five children: Kristine, Kathleen, Melvin Jr. (Chuck), Troy, and Melody (Dodi). They lived most of their married life on a farm 2 miles north of Spencer. Betty resided at the Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater, SD, for the past 15 months.

Betty was a hard-working woman and could do anything she set her mind to. For extra money, she butchered chickens, hatched, raised, and sold geese, and baked and decorated cakes for many occasions. Betty was an accomplished seamstress and even made coats and hats for the children. She loved to make all types of crafts and shared her creations with many. She hosted pheasant hunters for over 30 years and raised a huge garden.

Betty and Melvin hosted many exchange students over the years and kept in contact with quite a few of them. Betty traveled to Germany and Holland multiple times to see some of her "family." Betty also had a deep love for genealogy. She spent countless hours tracing family roots, preserving stories, and documenting connections across generations.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Betty graduated from DWU in 1987 with a teaching degree. She taught at Salem, Howard, Hanson, Artesian, and Mitchell Christian.

Betty took great pride and joy in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She especially enjoyed times when her five children sang together.

After they retired from farming, Betty and Melvin would winter in Texas and made lifelong friends.

After having to call her mother-in-law and ask her how to boil water when she was first married, Betty developed a love for baking that she passed on to her five children.

Left to cherish Betty's memory are her husband, Melvin Eilts; children, Kris (Kim) Heitzman, Kathy (Dennis) Liesinger, Chuck (Brenda) Eilts, Troy (Tonya) Eilts, & Dodi (Jason) Bailey; grandchildren, Melanie (Shawn) Johnson, Seth (Cory) Heitzman, Wade (Sandy) Heitzman, Michelle (Brandon) Steele, Sara (Tim) Petersen, Elizabeth (Chris) Weber, Crystal (Sam) Kezar, Margaret (Justin) Aylward, Charles (Jessica) Liesinger, Ryan (Lindsay) Eilts, Nicholas (Dimka) Eilts, Christopher (Natalie Gates) Driscoll, Nathanael (Kylie) Anderberg, Nahum Anderberg, Jonah Bailey, Peyton Bailey, Libby (Max) Nickerson, & Hunter Bailey; 36 great grandchildren with a great granddaughter on the way; brother, Jim Heronimus; sister, Carol (Ron) Olthoff; brothers-in-law, Richard Naser, Leonard (Arlys) Eilts, and Larry Eilts; sister-in -law, Peggy Wubben; along many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law, granddaughter, Jennifer Cook; sisters, Sharol and Bonnie; sisters in law, Sally Heronimus and Charlotte Eilts; brothers-in-law, Jon Wubben and Bob Beaudoin; and foster brother, Tim (LaQuita) Tschetter.