Obituary of Betty Guthmiller

Betty Guthmiller, age 94, of Menno, SD passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the Menno-Olivet Care Center with family members by her side. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Menno, SD with Pastor Brian Moseman officiating.  Burial will follow at the Menno Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Immanuel Lutheran Social Hall.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Livestreaming of Betty’s service can be viewed at: https://server.attend.live/static/event/9r23Z.

Betty Louise Feragen was born May 5, 1930 to Thor and Helen (White) Feragen in Minot, North Dakota, the youngest of seven children.  She was baptized in the Lutheran church on April 9, 1939 and confirmed her faith on June 17, 1945.  She gave her life to the Lord when she was at Campfire Bible Camp in the 1940’s.  She attended elementary school in Sioux Falls and Dell Rapids, SD and graduated from high school in Madison, SD in 1948.  She attended General Beadle State College (Dakota State University) in Madison for two years. While in college she met Mervin Guthmiller, a South Dakota State University (SDSU) college student and WWII veteran, at a local dance.  Betty was united in marriage to Mervin in Madison on June 4, 1950.  To their union five children were born ~ Robert (Bob), Gail, Mary, Ann, and Mark.

Betty and Mervin settled in Menno, SD and raised their children while being active in their church and family life.  In 1972 their family moved to Worthington, Minnesota living there for seven years followed by a move to Lancaster, Wisconsin in 1979 due to career advancements for Mervin with the Pride Seed Company. Betty and Mervin moved back to Menno, SD in 1986 shortly after Mervin’s retirement. 

After their return to Menno, Betty resumed her activity at Immanuel Lutheran Church along with being active with the Menno Pioneer Heritage Association, helping with the annual Menno Pioneer Power Show for many years. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. During retirement, Betty and Mervin loved to go antiquing and travel to visit their children around the country.  She was also a great caregiver and took care of her aging parents until their passing. She became a resident of the Menno-Olivet Care Center in May of 2020.

Betty was a very loving, kind, and dedicated wife and mother.  She took great pride in being a homemaker.  She was a great cook, and always made holidays extra special.  She loved to sew, do crafts, and go shopping. Most importantly, Betty had a strong faith and practiced it daily as she cherished and nurtured her family, along with her many lifelong friends.  Her family will miss her greatly along with her witty sense of humor. 

Betty is survived by her children and their families: Robert (Ana) Guthmiller of Torrance, CA, Mary (Bruce) Handel of Menno, SD, Ann (Jerry) Clough of Yankton, SD, and Mark (Pam) Guthmiller of Oregon, WI;  her grandchildren: Jeremy (Denise) Handel, and Justin (Joanie) Handel of Menno, SD, Heather Guthmiller of Torrance, CA and Megan (Derek) Peterson of Sun Prairie, WI; great grandchildren: Tyler Handel, Austin (Maria) Handel, Hailey Handel (fiancé Peder Haugen), Grant Handel (fiancée  Andrea Walz) and Avery Handel (fiancée Brooklyn Scherer); and great, great granddaughters Cecilia and Ella Handel of Menno, SD.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband Mervin in 2018, daughter Gail Guthmiller in 2010, sisters Eva Borrud of Ross, ND, Kay (Emory) Millett of Alpena, SD, Mary (Jim) Carter of Hills, MN, Doris (Robert) Farrell of Sioux Falls, SD, and brothers Don (Louise) Feragen of Santa Maria, CA and Robert (Madlin) Feragen of Wilmette, IL; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Irene and Mike Imig of Yankton, Emmett and Marguerite Guthmiller of Sioux Falls, SD, Lorraine and Elmer Baltzer of Scotland, SD, Heins Heinsohn of Scotland, SD, Marge and Lorell Sorensen of Brookings, SD, and Laverne and Marjorie Guthmiller of Manor, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Menno-Olivet Care Center, 402 S. Pine, Menno, SD 57078.