Betty Ann was born to William and AnnaMarcia (Goodhope) Ballensky, January 31, 1932 during a blizzard in Akaska, South Dakota. Olive Peterson, the town midwife, was called to help with the delivery since the doctor coming from Selby only made it to a farm half way.  Betty's folks lived with Grandma Ballensky until she started school.

Betty's mom was the Postmistress and her father managed a drug store, lunch counter, sold ice cream, candy and tobacco while selling insurance. Betty's jobs were to clean the candy and tobacco cases and to help her mother cook and can.

Akaska was a great place, there was a creek nearby where Betty liked to play and her father liked to pick chokecherries. They had dances on Friday nights and farmers and their families came into town on Saturdays. Men headed to the bar, women to shop and the kids would come to her father's drug store for ice cream. On Sundays Betty attended Zion Lutheran Church where she was confirmed.

She loved riding the train to see her Goodhope cousins in Hurley, South Dakota. She would glow as she talked about getting dressed up to go see "Gone With The Wind" on one of those trips.

She attended school in Akaska for eight years and four years in Glenham while living in the dorm. There were 4 girls who attended Glenham High School and stayed in the dorm. The parents took turns getting them on Friday evening and returning them on Sunday. She had heard of other students scaring the girls during the night and she had a flashlight she slept with every night and surprised the would-be pranksters by shining the light in their eyes and they ran away. She always had a flashlight with her in bed from then on.

One weekend she went home with her friend Vernetta Steiger. She met her brother Milton and two years later they were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Akaska, with a bouquet of red roses on a nice sunny day, December 31, 1950, New Years Eve.

Milton and his bride Betty rented their first home from Milton's brother Edward. Milton and Edward had wall papered the rooms in order to have everything ship shaped and lovely for his bride. They returned a few days later to all the paper falling from the walls and ceiling. They decided to paint the walls instead. After moving into the house Betty heard the sound of cars, she  looked outside to see car after car coming. She was frantic because she only had two kitchen chairs to sit on. They had come for a house warming and brought their own chairs.

The Steigers made their home on this farm on the county line until 1962 when they moved to Milton's parents farm where they celebrated 57 years of marriage before Milton went home to be with the Lord.

They were blessed with four boys and one girl 14 grandchildren, and 27 great grand children. They all were known to help Betty in the kitchen especially when she was making cookies where they more or less played with the dough. Betty loved gardening, baking, was famous for hauling meals to the field and fried chicken to the 4-H rodeos.

Betty sewed clothes for her family, including coats, suits, and christening gowns. She made an afghan for each of her grandchildren. She member of Mobridge United Church of Christ. President of the Pollock American Legion Auxillary. Betty created the Steiger-Junker Reunion that has lasted more than thirty years. These Reunions keep close relationships with the Steiger siblings, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren meeting on Father's Day weekend.

Being born an only child Betty loved being surrounded by a big family. She loved entertaining people at her table, often with food grown in her garden. She loved walking visitors to their car as they were leaving, one more hug, one more wave until they were out of sight. She always returned a kiss with a kiss.

Saturday October 30, 2021 Betty was surrounded by family as she went to her home in heaven to be with our Lord. Family Services will be held at Keslings Funeral Home Friday, November 5, 2021 at 7p.m. Funeral will be held at Mobridge UCC Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 10:30 a.m with a lunch to follow. Burial at 1:00 p.m. at St. Peter's Cemetery rural Glenham.

Betty is survived by her 5 children: Mike (Brenda) Steiger of Mobridge, Dan (Nancy) Steiger of Mobridge, Karen (Dana) Schlomer of Mandan, ND, Paul (Shelia) Steiger of Sturgis,SD, Phil (Linda) Steiger of Glenham, SD. 14 grandchildren Melissa (Josh) Shoop, Megan Steiger, Justin (Cassi) Steiger, Tyson (Sarah) Steiger, Carmen (Shawn) Kuntz, Erin (Jesse) Hehr, Lance (Karrisa) Steiger, Sarah (Tate) Mowrer, Kay Steiger, Lucretia Steiger, Chauncy (Chad) Wright, Cheyenne (Will) Sitting Dog, Wyatt Steiger, Lacy (Eric) Murray. Great grandchildren: Lucas, Owen, Hudson, Aurelia, Saffron, Bentleigh, Braxtyn, Bailey, Sydney, Reed, Tate, Hannah, Emily, Ally, Brandon, Grant, Brodey, Landon, Brinly, Colton, Cayenne, Uriah, Lyberti, Avery, Knightley, and Emsley,

Betty was preceded in  death by her husband of 57 years Milton Steiger, her parents, William and Marcia (Goodhope) Ballensky and a great grandson Bridger James Kuntz.