Betty L Nesby

Betty L. Nesby, 92, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel, Aberdeen with Pastor Mike Jacobson officiating.

Following the service there will be a time of Fellowship and Luncheon at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 24, at the mortuary. Visitation continues one hour before the service.

Burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery at a later date.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s website following the service.

Betty Lola Crisman was born on September 9, 1931, on the family farm south of Wagner, SD, to Roy C. and Grace (Rude) Crisman, the sixth of nine children. The family later moved to a farm northeast of Wagner. Betty attended country school and graduated from Ravina High School in 1949.

After high school, Betty moved to Brookings and lived with her aunt while she worked for the telephone company. It was there that Betty met the love of her life, Wayne Nesby. They were married on May 14, 1951. During their 53 years of marriage, they lived in Brookings, Anchorage, AK, Canton, Leola, Miller, and Rapid City. Leola is where they finally settled to raise their four children, and Betty worked as a dental assistant and at the McPherson County Harold newspaper.

After the children were grown, the couple moved to Miller where Betty worked for the Miller Press newspaper. Although Betty was never much of a sports fan, she and Wayne became avid Chicago Cubs fans. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Chicago and attended several Cubs games during their trip.

After retirement, Wayne and Betty became snowbirds, living in Texas during the winter months and Rapid City’s Hart Ranch for the summer. They eventually settled full-time in Rapid City. After Wayne passed away in 2004, Betty moved to Ipswich and then Aberdeen to be closer to her children. She moved to Bethesda Towne Square until living alone became too difficult, at which point she moved to Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

Betty was a lifetime member of the American Legion Axillary, where she held several offices locally and was Department President from 1989 to 1990. She was a 50-year (2008) member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served in many offices, including Worthy Matron, and at the state level, she served as a Grand Page and Grand Ruth from 1987 to 1988. Betty was a member of Bridge Club and Extension Club, a 4-H leader, and a Sunday School teacher at the Methodist Church. She cherished the friendships made in the organizations to which she belonged.

In her spare time, she crocheted afghans, which she donated to the Veterans Home in Hot Springs along with many local veterans. Betty did various crafts and loved to read murder mystery stories. She loved to bake and learned to decorate cakes that her children, grandchildren, and others enjoyed. Betty was recognized by the Kaiserslautern Military Community for her participation in the coupon program in support of service members and their families.

Grateful for having shared Betty’s life and remembered lovingly are her children: Larry (Bonnie Geffre) Nesby of Portland, TX, Dale Ann (Russell) Bomesberger of Onaka, SD, Lynn Gauer of Aberdeen, SD, and Brian( Jackie Glover)Nesby of Johnstown, CO; grandchildren: Michael Nesby, Heather Nesby, Danielle Dekker, Shawna Jacobs, Reece Bomesberger, Allison Lea, Jessica Scherr, Jacob Wainmann, Zachary Gauer, Jessica Fiedler, Cassondra Cano, and Tyler Nesby; 23 great-grandchildren; three brothers: Roland (Mayme) Crisman, Burton (Gae) Crisman, and Clark Crisman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Grace Crisman; husband, Wayne Nesby; infant son, Mark Nesby; great-grandson, Evan Nesby; brothers: Roy Crismon Jr. and his wife Gerry, Kenneth Crisman and his wife Laura, and Melton Crismon and his wife Marlene; sisters: Glyde Miller and her husband Don, and Gloria Young and her husband Don; and sister-in-law Sharon Crisman.

Memorials may be sent to Dale Bombesberger 14536 331st Ave Onaka, SD 57446.