Bethany Lemler
May 22, 1980 ~ November 6, 2023
Bethany Skye Lemler, 43, of Gettysburg, SD, passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023, due to heart complications while vacationing in Playa del Carmen, Mexico..
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the United Methodist Church, Gettysburg, SD. Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Gettysburg.
Bethany was born on May 22, 1980, in Hoven, South Dakota, the second of four children born to Daniel and Laurel (Hepper) Lemler. She was a feisty little baby, barely willing to wait for the doctor to deliver her. She had bright blue eyes and bouncy spiral curls. From the beginning, her dynamic and colorful personality was obvious.
As a child she loved to play make-believe games with her siblings, Ryder and Sombryn, and also with her many cousins. She was ten years old when her little brother Dane was born. She loved carting him around, changing his diapers, and singing to him.
Bethany attended school in Lebanon and Gettysburg where she excelled in extracurricular activities. She finished top ten in the state in cross country, acted in every play, and won the “Most Enthusiastic Cheerleader” award several years in a row. Her love of athletics led her to become deeply interested in the workings of the human body. She eventually acquired a vast knowledge regarding nutrition, exercise, and psychology. She was always quick to help those she loved whenever they suffered a deficit in any of these areas.
Bethany had a profound love of music. She taught herself how to play the guitar and was active in band and choir as a youth. Music was in her bones and found expression through her innate talent for dance and choreography. At one point she even operated her own dance studio.
Upon graduating from Gettysburg High School in 1998, Bethany moved to Utah to attend Weber State and then Southern Utah University. In 2002, she took a break from her schooling and volunteered to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Portland, Oregon. She grew up a proud member of the Latter-day Saints, Gettysburg Branch. Like everything else about her, Bethany’s spirituality was completely authentic, intuitive, and entirely her own. It was easy for her to feel a strong spiritual connection with people, even with those who had passed away. It was not uncommon for her to share experiences in which she had felt the presence of her deceased loved ones.
After her mission, Bethany embarked on many adventures. One of these adventures was graduating from Southern Utah University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Another adventure was working for several years in Maryland as a nanny. After these experiences, she began traveling the world extensively. She spent weeks at a time bravely navigating across the UK and India all by herself. Eventually she developed a fondness for Mexico and Canada as well as for the people of those countries. She particularly loved surfing and being near the ocean.
Wherever Bethany went, she quickly made close friendships. She cared deeply about others and had a special way of making people feel loved and heard. She naturally attracted people through her kindness and spark. She had a knack for absorbing new cultures. She was particularly gifted at learning languages and eventually became proficient in several, including Spanish, German, and Hindi.
Her spontaneity was completely unmatched. It added spice and excitement for everyone in her orbit. We will greatly miss the random post-it notes hanging throughout our hallways containing her handwritten positive affirmations. We will miss her emoji-filled text messages with her signature phrases like “cheers,” “hugs,” and “how’s tricks?” We will miss the smell of incense, the shiny glitter, the endless movie quotes, and the sparkling crystals strategically placed in every corner of the room.
Bethany, thank you for being our “Aunt B,” our “Moldy Marie,” and our “Shine.” You are loved more deeply than you probably ever realized. “Cheers” and “Hugs” until we can embrace you again.
Bethany is survived by her parents, Daniel Lemler and Laurel Lemler, both of Gettysburg, as well as by her three siblings: Ryder Lemler of Gettysburg; Sombryn (Eric) Williams of Cedar City, UT; Dane (Janine) Lemler of Old Irontown, UT; nieces and nephews: Jayden West and Ariel Lemler; Remy, Ericson, and Max Williams; Barrick and Rome Lemler.
She was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents: Raymond and Marcella Lemler, and Herb and Thelma Hepper.
Bethany’s family thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. They would appreciate if you have a memory of Bethany that you would share it with them.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Bethany’s arrangements.
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Bethany was a free spirit who’s smile and laugh brightened this world. My prayers go out to her family and whomever Bethany was able to leave an imprint on.
A nicer and more talented person cannot be found on this Earth. She will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know her. My prayers are with the Lemler Family… Russell
Hugs and prayers to the family
My thoughts and prayers to your family.
Deepest sympathy to all of Bethany's family. Many of us have wonderful memories of her being our daughters' dance teacher in the early 2000's in Gettysburg. Thoughts and prayers to all of you……
Nancy and I send our love and prayers
In Memory of Bethany Skye Lemler
My memories of Bethany always start with her sparkling smile and her abundant hair. Both were so beautiful. Oh, what a shock it was to learn of her death. Yet I know it’s only a temporary separation of her spirit from her body and that both will be reunited on Resurrection Day.
In Bethany’s young adult years, she stayed with us on many weekends. My three girls (Bethany’s cousins) were all close to her in age and friendship. Together the four cousins shared girl-talk, boy-talk, jokes, music, scripture reading, little joys and temporary hurts. I remember that Bethany especially enjoyed attending Bro. Kent Pearson’s Sunday School class with my girls in Sandy, Utah. Always energetic and “on the fly,” she would drive 240 miles, one way, from Cedar City to Sandy, Utah just to hear Bro. Pearson’s lessons!
Later, like a restless star, Beth traveled much farther…shooting off to places like India, England, and Mexico; making friends, memories, and music…so we weren’t able to see her very often, but we rejoice that we were able to be with her only one week before her last trip to Mexico.
Bethany Skye, dear little one, even though our common sense tells us that Heaven is the very best place for shooting stars, we will surely miss you every time the family gathers here on Earth.
Your Aunt Kathy
My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. With Love
We are so very very sorry.
So sad to hear of her passing. Such a free happy spirit! Prayers to her family. Rest in peace
Well, as her niece, I have many memories of her. She told me if I was a boy, she would mix my education. Red is blue, Yellow is green. But when she found out I was a girl, she decided to not. She loved to write music when she was younger. She posted videos on YouTube of her playing songs either on her ukulele or on her guitar. She also loved the ocean. She told me stories about her trips to the beach. She had this sweater that said “Bethany Beach” which was cool. For her birthday I got her a cup and seashells, I think. And she knew a lot about crystals. She would tell me every crystals’ name. I don’t remember most of their names tho. On the farm there is an old horse barn. We keep kittens in there. She named some of them. A white one Skittles, her favorite candy, even though she couldn’t have them. She inspired me to write books. She would read the books I would write. She had all kinds of tattoos. I miss her. When she died I thought it was my fault. I never expected this to happen.
I lived in the dorms at Weber State with Bethany. I sure love her. I tried to reconnect with her multiple times over the years, but could never find her. Someone mentioned she had a YouTube of her playing the guitar and ukulele, I’d love to see those! She was always so bright and colorful. She was a genuinely kind person. I am heartbroken, I really thought someday I’d see her again, I wanted my kids to meet her. I love how I felt when I was with her. Now when I see sparkles or a star twinkle, I’ll think of her.
Please text me a link to her you tube 801.995.5125
Bethany graced this world with kindness and insight. She was such a caring person. When I first met her at the Lemler Ranch in South Dakota, she was caring for a new litter of kittens like they were her own children. She was the type of person that loved and cared for all. She is missed but the world is a better place because of her. Russell McGregor