Elizabeth "Betty" Francis Gilbertson, 96, Redfield, S.D. died Tuesday, April 03, 2012, at the Eastern Star Home.

Her funeral service will be Friday, April 6, 2012 at 2:00 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Redfield. Reverend Tim Fugman will officiate. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery with Thelen Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. (www.thelenfuneralhome.com)


Visitation will be Thursday, April 5, 2012 from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5-7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home, Redfield, SD.


Elizabeth Francis Skillman was born January 3, 1916 to Merit and Inga (Running) Skillman in Valley Springs, SD. She had eight brothers and one sister. She grew up in Valley Springs and graduated from Valley Springs High School. She attended Augustana College, in Sioux Falls, SD for about a year. While in college, she worked at Fenn's Ice Cream, Manchester Biscuit Co., and at Kresge Dollar Store in downtown, Sioux Falls.


She married Adolph, "Gil" Gilbertson on June 14, 1938 in the Augustana Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, S.D. Following their marriage, they lived in Chamberlain before moving in 1942, to Redfield, SD, where they raised their family and lived their remaining years. Gil worked in Redfield for the Soil Conservation Service, and in 1953 he went to work for the Dakota Hatchery and Mill and later became part owner. Betty resided at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield from October, 2002 until April, 2012.


Her hobbies and interests included the Chicory Chicks Extension Club, hospital auxiliary, golf, bridge, dancing, baseball games, summers at Pickerel Lake, coin and political button collecting, and working crossword puzzles. One of her favorite pastimes during her younger years was that of playing on a woman's softball team and she was especially proud of her strong pitching arm. She was a member of the United Church of Christ for 65 years where she also taught Sunday school.


Betty is survived by two daughters: Linda and her husband Wayne Hardie of Los Alamos, N.M. and Barbara and her husband Randy Joyce of Redfield, S.D. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren: Elizabeth Nanez, Krista Page, and Mark Joyce; 3 great-grandchildren: Allison and Nicholas Nanez, and Sierra Page; and a brother Shirley Skillman.


Preceding her in death was her husband Gil in 1974, her parents, seven brothers and one sister.


The family wants to thank and express our gratitude to the Eastern Star Home for the kind, loving care of Betty for so many years. Our confidence and trust in all you did for her brought us great peace of mind.


The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted and put toward a gift in Betty's memory which will be given to the Eastern Star.