Betty May Ryan, 89, Lead, SD passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Edgewood Healthcare, Spearfish.  Service arrangements pending.

Betty Mae Holt was born at Belle Fourche on May 14, 1936 to Rolfe and Ruby (Shadoan) Holt. She was baptized in the Newell Lutheran Church, lived on a farm and attended elementary school in Newell. In 1947 the family moved to Nevada Gulch near Lead, where she graduated from Lead High School in 1954 and has continued to reside there. Betty Mae was happily married to Wayne L. Ryan for nearly 57 years until his death in 2008. To this union four children were born; Gail, Wayne, Jr, Steven and John.

The family was active in 4-H; Boy Scouts; P.T.A.; Twin City Saddle Club and for many years served on local election boards. In 1969, Betty Mae started working at the Lead-Deadwood School System. She retired in June 1995 as Director of Food Services after 26 years of service to the students and staff there. She was a member of the American and South Dakota School Food Service Associations and was honored with a plague from them in 1995 for outstanding contributions to child nutrition programs. She was a long-time member of Beta Sigma Phi Society and the local women’s bowling league. Betty enjoyed doing stone-work, flowers, garden, horses, bowling, family reunions, spending time with many friends and especially her family.

Betty Mae is survived by her daughter, Gail (Dennis Williams) Clyne, Lead; sons, Wayne (Valerie) Ryan, Jr, Spearfish, Steven (Maggie) Ryan, Lead, John (Jolene) Ryan, Whitewood; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Betty Mae was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wayne; brother, Jack Holt; sisters, Jean Holt and Connie June; granddaughter, Stacy Ryan and great-grandchildren, Dana Fraiser and Ryder Chambers.