Elizabeth (Betty) Richey was born at Omaha, Nebraska, on March 18, 1921, the daughter of Charles and Emma (Dickman) Richey. She passed away on January 28, 2007, at Burke, South Dakota.

Betty spent her childhood on a farm in Tripp County near Wewela, South Dakota. She completed her elementary education in country school and graduated from Colome High School with the class of 1939. She attended college at Southern Normal School, Black Hills State University and Northern Colorado State University. She had an undergraduate degree in elementary education, a Masters Degree in Education and a Masters Degree in Psychology Counseling. She was an educator in the public schools for 44-1/2 years. This included a rural school in Tripp County, Winner Public Schools, McLaughlin Public Schools, three years overseas teaching Air Force dependents in the countries of Japan, France and Germany, and teaching sixth grade at Jefferson School and Meadowbrook School in Rapid City. Betty was a resource teacher for all of the Rapid City elementary schools for two years, which included overseeing the teachers aide program, and also was a Teacher Corps team leader for two years, overseeing interns who were taking their last two years of college. The last eleven years of Bettys career were spent as principal of the South Canyon School and nine of these years included the Black Hawk School. Betty retired in 1986. Throughout her life she was an active member of many local, state and national organizations. Betty was a faithful member of the Canyon Lake United Methodist Church since 1961.

Betty greatly enjoyed traveling, playing golf and bridge, bowling, reading and working in her yard and garden. After retirement she did volunteer work at her church and the Rapid City Public Library, and during her lifetime she enjoyed many memorable trips to other countries and throughout the United States. In December of 2006 Betty moved to Burke to be closer to family and enjoyed the friendships made there.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Frank, brother and sister-in-law, Dick and Marie and sister-in-law Lila. She is survived by her brother, Bill, of Burke, South Dakota, her sister-in-law, Lucile, of Wewela, South Dakota, and eight nieces and nephews, Bob Richey, Dick (Cheryl) Richey, Jim (Nancy) Richey, Bill (Bonnie) Richey, Arlene (Roger) Dunn, Charlene (Mel) Juran, Russ (Jacque) Richey and Randy (Nicole) Richey, and their families, as well as many friends.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at Canyon Lake United Methodist Church in Rapid City, South Dakota. Inurnment will be Monday, February 5, 2007 at 10:00 AM in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Springview, Nebraska.

In Lieu of flowers, Bettys wish was that memorials be directed to the Canyon Lake United Methodist Church in Rapid City.