Betty (Dower) Hamling was born on October 3, 1920 in Texas County, Guymann, Oklahoma to Sam and Lydia Dower. She was one of 14 children: Anna May, Clarence Benjamin, Pearl Lester, Martha Lillian, Louis Benjamin, Inez Lulla, Carthel B., Tommie S., Joseph Rollen, Donald Dare, Elven Ray, Bernard Manning, and Mac LeeRoy (two of which passed in infancy).

Her family moved from Oklahoma to South Dakota during the dust bowl era in the 1930's.

She attended high school in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Betty met and married Joseph Oliver Hamling in 1938. They had three children: a son Don and daughters Sharon and Darenda. On February 6, 2014, Betty died, leaving behind her pain and a huge hole in the hearts of her loved ones.

Betty was a homemaker and caregiver to many. She mothered more than just her own children and grandchildren. Many nieces and nephews, friends of her children and grandchildren were shown the abundance of her love. Betty opened her home to many of them over the years.

Betty loved to have fun. Her grandchildren loved spending time with her and each of them at some time received a sprits of water through her kitchen window from the kitchen sprayer as they walked by. She kept them busy pulling dandelions (at a payment of 1 each weed pulled), playing 5 card draw, 7 card stud, Kings on the Corner, Farkle, Hot Seat, dancing, singing and telling stories. She was very patient and loving with them all.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, her husband Joe, daughter Sharon, grandson Tim Reich, great-grandsons John Richard Reich, Jr. and Isaiah Samuel Young, and several nieces and nephews.

She is survived by son Don (Viv) Hamling, Rapid City, SD; and, daughter Darenda (Raymond) Bott, Oologah, OK. Grandchildren: Kurt (Dawn) Orndorff, St. Louis, MO; Tom (Peggy) Reich, Las Vegas, NV; Don (Gail) Orndorff, Ochelata, OK; Becky (Bruce) Hopkins, Rapid City, SD; Tiffany (Ken) Young, Las Vegas, NV; Ted (Kari) Reich, Omaha, NE; and, Aaron Francisco, Rapid City, SD. Great grandchildren: Roshelle (Fernando) Chavez, Sidney and Geoffrey Reich; Ashton Smith, Kellen and Kaden Orndorff; Joey Reich and Devan Jacobs; Aumbra (Nick) Braden, Lily, Joseph and Felicity Orndorff and Allen and Andrew Hargis; Chris, Katie, Matt and Megan Hopkins; Kenny and Hannah Young; and, Madison, Isaac, Abigail, Emilie, Stuart and Owen Reich; Tracy Bott, CA, Jeff and Monty Bott, CA. Great great grandchildren: Andrew, Nicholas, and Allison Chavez; Baileigh, Ally and Wyatt Orndorff and the four Hargis children; Leo, Tippy and Clare Bott, along with countless other relatives and special friends.

She leaves behind not only the legacy of her family but her lessons of endless love, devotion, patience and forgiveness - reminding all of us at some point in our lives that the only person you hurt by holding on to hate is yourself.

Special thanks to the staff and nurses of Hospice House for their kind and gentle treatment of Betty. A special heartfelt thanks to great granddaughter Katie Hopkins who spent the last year and a half as Betty's steady companion and caregiver.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Betty requested no flowers and if you feel the desire to, she would prefer that you donate to the Disabled American Veterans, 101 East Madison Street, Rapid City, SD 57709.