Betty Jane Jensen

Betty Jensen, 98, formerly of Oldham, SD, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, surrounded by her family at the Brookings Hospital in Brookings, SD.

Funeral services will be held on March 2, 2026, at 10:30 AM at the Oldham Lutheran Church with visitation being held prior from 9:00-10:15 AM. Officiating the service will be Pastor Randy Eisenbeisz and Vicar Wanda Biel. Burial will be at the Oldham Lutheran Cemetery following the service.  The service will be livestreamed via our website.

Betty Jane Bickett was born July 17, 1927, on the family farm in rural Oldham, SD to Cecil and Mary (Edwards) Bickett. After the death of her father, she attended elementary school in Madison and moved to Oldham where she graduated from the class of 1946. Following school, she worked at the Sioux Falls National Bank followed by the Lund Drug Store in Oldham, SD. Betty married the love of her life, Donald L. Jensen, on February 22, 1948, in Oldham, SD. 

Betty was active in the Oldham Lutheran Church, Ladies Aide Circle, and quilting at the church. She was also a member of the Oldham Legion Auxiliary, American State Bank Bowling Team, and Room Mother for her children. She additionally taught baton twirling and formed a school twirling team in the 1960s. She and Don were also members of the local snowmobile club and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe. Betty was an avid Jacks fan and she enjoyed playing all kinds of cards, especially Bridge and Poker, later in life. 

She is survived by her son Steven (Linda) Jensen of Lake Preston, SD and a daughter Shelley (Ed) Eisenbeisz of Oldham, SD; six grandchildren, Nicole (Ken) DuBois, Melissa (Eric) Bothun, Courtney (Kevin) Gilroy, Carrie (Mitch) Klein, and Ashley and Cody Eisenbeisz; twelve great-grandchildren, Dalton, Adelyn, Christian, Elliana, Mia, Ava, Hayley, Brooklyn, Kasen, Aleah, Maddex and Sienna; one great-great-grandchild, Scottie Lynn, and nieces and nephews, sister-in-law, Nancy (John) Kleinjan of White, SD.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Don, infant son Scott, parents, two brothers, Gerald “Red” (Helen) Bickett, Burdell “Bud” (Linda) Bickett, sister/brother-in-law Marian (Richard) Soma, and nieces and nephews.

Betty’s legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured, the faith she modeled, and the love she so freely gave. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel of Arlington, Lake Preston, Oldham                www.crawfordosthus.com

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