Betty Harpole

Elsbeth “Betty” Harpole, 90, passed away on May 11, 2023, at Sanford Health in Bismarck, ND.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Steele, ND, with Pastor Gail Hagerty as officiant. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Steele.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 6:00-7:00 PM at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Betty was born on May 3, 1933, at her family homestead in Steele, North Dakota, and joined her siblings Eugene, Hedwig, Gertrude, Leeann, and Hazel. She lived most of her life on the family farm which was just north of town. Keeping farm animals, tending a vegetable garden, and doing field work while spending time with her grandchildren all piled into the family car racing to town to get parts were things that kept her busy. Her grandchildren were the biggest part of her heart and her life.

Betty was a member of the Lutheran Church in Steele. She was a very talented bowler and this was her favorite pastime. Her high game was 265! Betty also served as the league’s secretary.

Betty was the mother to five children: Kenneth, Kathy, Rick, Terry, and Tammy. She was grandma to 22 and great-grandma to many more! She was very easy-going and could be found watching TV, doing a word-search puzzle, or reading. Besides enjoying watching game shows, she played games of solitaire, bingo, and Keno. She was a baseball fan who loved western movies and music.

Betty is survived by her children, Jerry (Diane) Harpole, Kenny (Maybell) Job, Kathy (Gerald) Laine, Rick (Gail) Harpole, Terry (Barb) Harpole, Tammy (Rob) Wieting; 22 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great grandchildren; and two sisters, Hazel Houkom and Leann Doepke.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gottfried and Lena; brother, Eugene; sisters, Gertrude and Hedwig; and infant child, Debbie.