Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Evans was born in Jamestown, ND, on October 7, 1930, to Ford and Catherine (Morrison) Evans, the 2nd of two children; her older brother, James Evans, and herself where her folks managed a Singer Sewing Machine center. They moved to Rapid City, SD. Here she took great pride at attending Garfield Elementary School and later to become a Cobbler graduating from Rapid City Central in 1949.
She worked as a soda fountain waitress in Downtown Rapid City and worked produce at the Gamble Store in Downton Rapid City often getting to work from north Rapid on her bicycle.
She met her future husband because of his motorcycle. She often tells the story that he came back to court her and knocked down her parent's mailbox with his motorcycle. Yes. She liked his bike and later grew attached to him as well.
Robert and Betty Chihak were married June 24, 1951, at Rapid City, First Presbyterian Church, and continued their strong relationship for 65 years until his passing on March 31, 2017. He was working with her dad at the Rapid City Gambles Store. They later purchased the Sturgis Gamble Store which was located on the corner of Main and now Harley Davidson Way. Later after the store caved in during a spring blizzard in 1984, they purchased the Gamble Store in Belle Fourche.
Betty loved her bowling and went to every state bowling tournament around the state that she could, often joined by her daughters and granddaughters as well. She enjoyed a good dice game of Ship Captain and Crew, and would take her dice wherever she went. She was very active in the Sturgis Toastmistress Club, where she held regional officer positions. In her Zonta Club, she was twice awarded Zontian of the year and took great pride in being queen of her Sorority Group which she still belonged to even though she physically wasn't able to attend.
One of her biggest joys was her biker family and even came to befriend many. After Gambles collapsed, she rented spots on the then vacant lot to vendors during the Sturgis Bike Week. Many every year would come back and she and Bob would look forward to their reunion each year. Every year she would spend long days at "Treasure Island." The end of the week she always had a "Survivors" Picnic in her back yard at the Murray Addition house for her vendors and anyone else who wanted to attend. Her parties would last throughout the night. She loved to entertain and would also have the neighborhood picnics in her backyard as well.
Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Chihak, 88, of Sturgis, passed away at Sturgis Regional Long-Term Care on March 13, 2019, with her children and grandchildren at her side.
She leaves behind her children Debbie (Bob) Looby, Judy (Ken) Miller, Karla (Sean) Makepeace, Bobby (Becky) Chihak and Paula (Don Bertolot) Basker, along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; a granddaughter, Deanna Lynn O'Connor; son-in-law, John McDonald; and her parents.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Pastor Steve Talley officiating. Interment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
A memorial has been established to Sturgis Long-Term Care Center.