Betty Heckenlaible

Betty Heckenlaible, 92, of Highmore, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2023, at Avera St. Mary's Hospital, Pierre.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 28, 2023 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Highmore, Father Paul Josten, celebrant.  Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Highmore. Visitation will be 6:00 p.m., Thursday, July 27, 2023 with a 6:30 p.m. rosary service and 7:00 p.m. wake service, all at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Highmore.

Elizabeth (Betty) Theresa Kusser was born on February 20, 1931, at the home of Maximillion (Max) and Mabel (Perrigoue) Kusser four miles east of Mac's Corner in Stephan, SD. Aunt Alva helped deliver Elizabeth and said that name was too big for such a little girl, so they called her Betty.

Betty joined two brothers, Simon John and Joseph Max. Later, Betty's little brother, Edward Charles (Buzz), was born. Betty and Buzz were more than siblings, they were best buddies. Buzz and Betty loved to play under the porch or in the couch. Buzz saved Betty's life when she fell into the dam. Betty went under and Buzz yelled for Mom, and they both grabbed her arms and pulled her out of the water. Betty always knew that her brothers watched over her. 

Betty still has her favorite toy, which was a glass doll with pretty clothes. Her favorite movie was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Her favorite pet was her little bird that Grandma Perrigoue snuck onto the train from Spearfish to hang by her bed when she was really sick.  

Betty graduated from Mount Marty High School then went on to Black Hills State College. In 1952, Highmore built a new auditorium where she took tickets at the basketball games. Betty met the love of her life, Ronald Heckenlaible, at a dance in the auditorium. Betty was dancing with another guy, and Ronald grabbed the guy and started dancing with her for the rest of the night.  Ronald took Betty and some of her softball teammates up to Lemmon, SD with his dad's new car.                                               

Ronald Heckenlaible and Betty Kusser were married on July 20, 1953, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Stephan, SD. During those 70 years, they were blessed with five children: Steven, Cynthia, Mary Lee, Ronnie Allen, and Gary.  Betty was very active in her children’s lives and then later with the grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to go to anything they were in.                                                                              

Betty worked alongside of dad whether it was hauling little round bales in the truck or helping in the field. One day dad asked her to pull him to town. Mom drove the pickup with us kids and dad was on the John Deere H narrow front-end tractor. Mom was driving right a long and dad was yelling for her to slow down but us kids told her he wanted her to go faster. Mom passed a car and a truck on the way to Highmore. Brezzy Peterson said that was the fastest tractor ever pulled to his shop. Later when Betty retired from teaching, she helped deliver cars for Pioneer Garage in Highmore. They had fun on those road trips. They also enjoyed many trips with family and friends.      

Betty taught school for 30 years at the Hyde County School. Most of those years she taught in the country schools, where she taught all eight grades in a one room schoolhouse with no running water and outside toilets. Later, she hauled big bags of the students’ lunches and all of her school bags, too. Her students learned to listen closely since she was soft spoken. She loved all of her students. Betty went on to further her education at Black Hills State and she would stay at her grandma's and aunt's house in Spearfish in the summer. Betty taught 5th grade in Highmore. The first year she taught her grandson, Bob Klebsch, and the next year, Jesse Klebsch. But grandma never played favorites, every student was the same, grandson or not.                                                                                                                                                                          

Betty was always teaching even after she retired. Her love for books was passed on to many children. Betty was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, St. Mary's Church, Catholic Daughters for over 70 years, St. Mary's Alter Society, Teachers Association, Civic League, Red Hats and was a 4-H Leader and Boy Scout Leader.  

Betty's memories and love will be cherished by her husband, Ronald of Highmore; her children: Steve (Sally Swanson) of Aberdeen, Cindy Mienen of Mitchell, Mary Lee (Mark) Klebsch of Holabird, and Gary of Rapid City; seven grandchildren: Bob (Samantha) Klebsch of Lake Mills, Iowa, Ethan (Lenai) Heckenlaible of Ft. Pierre, Cody (Hope) Heckenlaible of Hudson, Iowa, Jeremy (Angela) Mienen of Box Elder, Jared Meinen of Mitchell, Brittney (John) Heckenlaible of Phoenix, AZ, Roland (Tina Cherokee) Heckenlaible of Berea, Kentucky; six great grandchildren: Avah and Sophia Klebsch of Lake Mills, Iowa, Addysen, Hayden, and Landen Heckenlaible of Ft. Pierre, Roni Heckenlaible of Hudson Iowa Cayden and Ria Rose of Berea, KY;  daughter-in-law, Joanne Heckenlaible of Ft. Pierre; and many family and friends.                                                                 

Betty is preceded in death by her parents: Max and Mabel Kusser; siblings: Marie, Simon, Joseph, Buzz, and Michael Kusser; in-laws: Gottleb, Jr. and Herriet Velma Heckenlaible; son, Ronnie Heckenlaible; grandson, Jesse Klebsch; son-in-law, John Menien; and many more cherished family members.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Betty's arrangements.