Betty Vanderwerf

Betty Mae Vanderwerf, of Lennox, South Dakota passed peacefully from this life on February 23, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 88. Betty’s funeral will take place at 11:00 am, Monday, March 2, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tea. A family visitation will be from 9:00-10:00 am and public visitation from 10:00-11:00 am immediately prior to the service on March 2 at the church. Betty was born October 18, 1937 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to parents Leonard and Mabel Poppens. She grew up in the Lennox area, where she graduated high school before pursuing further education at Nettleton College. On May 20, 1960 Betty was joined in marriage to Harry Vanderwerf at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Lennox. The couple began their life together and started a family while living in Harrisburg. After a few years, they bought a farm north of Lennox, which they continued to farm with their family throughout their lives. Farm life suited Betty well. She made sure everyone was well fed, delivering freshly made sandwiches and goodies right out to the combine. In recent years, she continued to enjoy riding in the combine or joining her sons in the semi to drop off corn at the elevator. Betty grew much of the family’s food, tending a large garden each year. She always had plenty of frozen green beans, canned veggies, and fresh strawberries from her giant strawberry patch. There was plenty to go around in the Vanderwerf home, where in addition to raising their own children, Betty and Harry also fostered many others over the years. Besides her work on the farm, Betty did office work at Morrels for a short time and she was a bus driver for the Lennox school district for over 20 years. There was a permanent circle drive carved out at the family farm from bringing the school bus home to park each night. Betty showed kindness to all those around her, friends, family, children and animals as well. Slow to anger, not much could make her mad, even when the kids found the cookies she hid. She liked to stay busy and enjoyed crafts such as macrame and coloring. But most of all, Betty loved time spent with family, whether sharing a big holiday meal or going to cheer on her grandkids at their events, she never missed a chance to be together. Betty is survived by her sons, David Vanderwerf (Pamela Beeson) of Wagner, SD, Douglas (Linda) Vanderwerf of Tea, SD, and Ronald Vanderwerf of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Joshua (Abigail) Vanderwerf of Lennox, and Jessica (Casey) Voelker of Tea; and great-grandchildren, Allegra and Jamen Vanderwerf, and Emery, Brady, and Jaina Voelker; sisters-in-law, Lena Brower of Atwater, MN, Alice Fluit of Sioux Falls, Mary (Mike) VanDekieft of Canton, and Marlys Vanderwerf of Sioux Falls, as well as many other extended family members and friends. In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband Harry Vanderwerf, daughter, Kathryn Daggitt-Vanderwerf, and brothers, Eldon Poppens and Arnold Poppens.

Betty Vanderwerf

October 18, 1937 - February 23, 2026

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