Betty M. Nelson, 85, of Hartford died Monday, June 13, 2016 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion surrounded by her family. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM Thursday, June 16, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Hartford. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic. On-line condolences may be left at Minnehaha Funeral Home.

Betty was born February 6, 1931 in Sioux Falls to parents John and Myrtle (Nelson) Moe. She grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington High School in 1949.

Betty married Donell M. Nelson August 14, 1949 in Sioux Falls. They lived in Sioux Falls until moving to Hartford in 1952. After Donell died on February 22, 1990 she moved to Dells and lived there a few years before moving back to Hartford. She later moved to the Salem Assisted Living Center in Salem.

She loved playing cards with her sister, reading, china painting, word find, raising roses,and loved babies and small children. She was a foster mother for many years.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter, Judy Nelson, Hartford; sons, Jeff (Beverly) Nelson, Dell Rapids; John (Teresa) Nelson, Sioux Falls; James (Monica) Nelson, Nelson, Hartford; nine grandchildren, Shawna (Brandon), Dustin (Krista), Derek, Jared (Regina), Jeff, Jacie (Dominic), Ashley (Pat), Heather (Dustin), and Jennifer (DJ), nine great grandchildren; and a sister, Dianne Crisp, Dell Rapids.

She was preceded by her parents, her husband, Donell on February 22, 1990, a grandson, Scott, and a sister, Mary Jean.