Betty Folk

Betty Folk, age 86, of Milbank, SD, passed away with her loving family by her side on May 17, 2025, at St. William’s Care Center in Milbank.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. Father John Helmueller will celebrate the Mass, and burial will be in the St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday beginning at 5:00 p.m. followed by a prayer vigil at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday, one hour prior to the Mass.

The Mass will be livestreamed, recorded, and viewable below this obituary.

Betty Lou (Reynen) Folk was born on February 1, 1939, in Milbank, SD. She was the daughter of Arthur and Gladys (Darling) Reynen. Betty grew up in Milbank and graduated from Milbank High School with the Class of 1958. She met Leo Folk at the DeFea Movie Theater in Milbank. Betty tossed popcorn at him, and they began dating. They were united in marriage on June 28, 1958, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. They settled in Milbank and have lived their entire married lives there. They were blessed with two children: Lisa and Neil.

Betty was a loving caregiver. She raised her children and provided babysitting for others. When her children became of school age, she worked at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Milbank. She worked in housekeeping and also was a nurse’s aide for about ten years, while continuing to babysit when she could.

When Betty wasn’t working, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved to read. She and Leo enjoyed gardening, and Betty proudly canned and preserved their harvest. She loved animals and enjoyed her pet birds and dogs.

Betty was baptized into the Catholic faith following her marriage. She was a faithful member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

Left to cherish her memory are her two children: Lisa (Dale) Aker of Milbank, SD; and Neil (Beth) Folk of Milbank, SD; three grandsons: Christopher (Stephanie) Folk of Big Stone City, SD; Jacob (Brittany) Folk of Milbank, SD; and Zachary Aker of Watertown, SD; one granddaughter, Alyssa Aker of Huron, SD; four great-grandchildren: Shayla, Colsen, Mikaela, and Liam; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Evelyn Reynen of Milbank, SD; Larry Bohn of Twin Brooks, SD;  Mary Whiting of Milbank, SD; Rose Lewno of St. Helens, OR; Teresa Hyatt of Milbank, SD; Eugene (DeAnna) Folk of Corona, SD; Barbara Graham of Colorado; Donald (Shirley) Folk of Corona, SD; and Angela (Rusty) Davis of Nevada; and many nieces and nephews, including special nieces: Tami Rise, Diana Thyne, and Marilyn Thyne.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents: Arthur and Gladys Reynen; her husband, Leo, in 2022; and her siblings: Donald Reynen, Donna Thyne, Joyce Folk, Barbara Bohn, and Marlin Reynen.

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