Betty Jorgensen

Betty Jorgensen, 75 of Hurley, passed away on January 31, 2023 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls. Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, February 6, 2023 at St. Christina’s Catholic Church, Parker. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM Sunday, February 5, 2023 at the Hurley American Legion, Hurley. A Rosary and Scripture Service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 18, 2023 at St. Martin's Chapel in Sturgis with a luncheon to follow. Arrangements provided by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home.

When I was born on June 3, 1947, God placed me in the arms of wonderful parents, Justine Bestgen Bruch and Anthony Henry Bruch. God also gave me such unique and wonderful siblings and in-laws. Joanne (Dean) Harmon, John Bruch, Bob Bruch, Helen (Duane) Riedlinger, Ed Bruch, Judy Bruch (Pat Kerrigan), Albert (Holly) Bruch, Nick (Joni) Bruch, Susan (Bob) Lehrkamp and special friend-Bonnie Bruch. I have also been blessed with wonderful grandparents, aunts, uncles, many cousins, and friends throughout my life.

The best blessings of my life have been my husband and best friend Duane Jorgensen (who I married July 21, 1979), our sons Jessie L (Nicole) Jorgensen, Andrew J (Jessica) Jorgensen, our grandchildren KyLee, Emma, Avery, and Dominic. I also have a granddaughter, Aubry Hope, waiting for me in heaven. Among my blessings I count many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and now great-great-nieces and nephews. I thank them all for the time they have spent with me. I have had such fun getting to know them-each and every one.

I spent the early part of my life at Stoneville then Sturgis, where I attended Catholic grade school and graduated from high school at St. Martin’s Academy and The National College of Business in Rapid City. My working career was spent doing office and bookkeeping work in the medical and tax fields and also working for the School for the Deaf and the Children’s Dental Clinic in Sioux Falls. I also worked at the Hurley Elevator and was a finance officer for the town of Hurley.

Jessie and Andrew and their families were always first place in my heart. Time spent at the cabins, fishing, boating, hunting, and riding in the hills while relaxing and people watching was fun for everyone.  Grandchildren were a special blessing bringing more love into my life. I enjoyed watching them grow, playing games with them, teaching them cooking skills, reading to them, and providing guidance and advice like only a grandparent can.

All of my cousins played a great part in my life. Each of you held a special spot in my heart. Ante-over by the milking shed, riding behind the tractor on the car hood over the snow, sleighing down the big hole, swinging in the trees, sneaking past the big rock, picnics on Sundays, going to the cousins to watch the first black and white TV, and maybe having a beer or three with some of you in later years! You were all like another set of brothers and sisters but just lived in different houses! Those are wonderful memories.

My aunts and uncles spent a lot of time with me. They taught me how to work hard and sometimes have fun while doing it! How to ice skate, swim, fish (and clean them), how to pick potatoes, plums, and wild raspberries (although Grandma Agnes ate most of them!), how to enjoy a circus, an overnight at the cabin with our friends, climbing hills, sleigh rides, going Christmas tree hunting in Vanocker Canyon and saying the rosary on every car ride.  These are just a few of my wonderful childhood memories.

Some of my loved ones who are waiting to welcome me are my parents Tony and Justine Bruch, brother Ed Bruch, granddaughter Aubry, my grandparents John and Jessie Bestgen and Henry and Agnes Bruch. Duane’s parents Donald and Vivian Jorgensen, brother-in-law Glen Jorgensen, nieces Mary Harmon, Erica Osterlo, all my aunts and uncles, and several special cousins.

God gifted Betty with many talents. She had a touch for making things beautiful. She could paint anything - China, pictures, trinkets, a decorative wall, a piece of wood or an ostrich egg.  Her sewing and embroidery would turn something plain into a beautiful work of art. Duane and Betty always had a “project” going. It could be making stools, chests, wood burning pictures, or refinishing furniture. They also enjoyed working on their beautiful yard, trees, flowers, gardens, and grotto which provided a peaceful setting for all who stopped to visit. Lucky are those of us who were gifted any of her many beautiful creations and her faithful friendship.

We think Betty might have inherited some Bruch family traits:

From Dad: She might have gotten some of his leftover stubbornness, strong will, penny pinching (where to hide money too), generosity, and maybe a bit of his bossy-ness?

From Mom: Kindness, dignity, grace, making sure family and visitors were comfortable and well fed, large family gatherings and picnics, how to cook, and of course loving a funny joke.

From both our parents: Generous with time, talents, advice, opinions, hard work, making do with what you had, and most of all-faith and love. Betty had a deep and abiding faith. It was very important to her. She loved God with her whole heart. She also deeply loved all her family and friends. If it was your birthday or an anniversary, you might not have received a card, but you surely did get a prayer asking God to bless and protect you. If you were sick, she prayed for you. If you needed someone to confide in, she was your gal.

From her brothers and sisters: How to hold your own in an argument, how to share, how to earn extra money like pulling copper out of motors and selling it by the pound (now that was a “dirty job”), fixing everything you could (be it mechanical to broken hearts), how to clean bathrooms at school to help with room and board, babysitting, cleaning, how to haul wood to keep warm, how to ride one wheel, how to share one bike, how to do your share to push a stuck car, how to share toys and clothes, how to snipe hunt, how to rabbit hunt, teamwork and love; the list is endless. Oh! And she loved to tell and listen to stories, especially about our younger years!  These memories will remain in our hearts forever.