Betty Miskimins - Mitchell

March 7, 1930 - Dec. 12, 2018

Posted

Betty Miskimins, 88, Mitchell,  died Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be at a later date in the Cambria Cemetery at Cambria, IA. Arrangements are with the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell.

Betty Berdene Krog was born on March 7, 1930, at Chamberlain, South Dakota to Pete and Jennie (Lawver) Krog.  She grew up on a farm in Buffalo County, South Dakota, with her siblings, Kenneth, Dorothy (Moss), Berniece (Spencer), Dr. Harold, and Keith.  Betty attended country school and graduated as valedictorian of her class from Wessington Springs High School.   

She attended and completed her course work at Reynolds Business School, Mitchell.  She returned to Wessington Springs and was the office manager for Roscoe E. Dean, M.D. in Wessington Springs.  She admired Dr. Dean for his integrity and decency, and for his immense contributions to the community.  Dr. Dean had a great influence on Betty, and she considered him to be one of the finest persons that she had ever met. 

She met and fell in love with the love of her life, Radean S. “Doc” Miskimins of Wayne County, Iowa, while he was engaged in his veterinary doctoral practicum in and near Gettysburg, South Dakota.  They married on December 22, 1951. 

Doc and Betty moved to Kimball, South Dakota in 1952.  Together they embarked on their long and amazing journey through life with each other.  Their mutual devotion to each other and their family was an example for others to emulate.  Betty was fearless in so many ways and was a steadfast and resolute partner for Doc as he used his passion and creativity to find new professional and business endeavors.  Betty was his pillar, and very few of life’s unexpected challenges caused him to stagger or sway with Betty as his bedrock. 

They moved to Mitchell in 1964 and completed training of the Miskimins boys.  When Betty determined that the boys were ready to take their own journeys in hand, she refocused on partnering with Ray in a variety of undertakings, including their antique business and the creation and development of the Miskimins Ranch cowherd.  Her Mariner’s Compass quilt block adorns the family’s barns.

Betty and Ray have four sons.  To each of them, Betty was so much more than their loving and devoted mother.  She was their preeminent teacher, most zealous cheerleader, and principal life coach.   

Her love and support of her boys was immeasurable.  Betty shared that same deep care and affection for her many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and others that were dear to her.

God gave Betty a soul full of creativity and artistry.  She was vigilant in her efforts to help her loved ones find those attributes within themselves and to share those gifts with others in a way that made them happy.

Betty loved learning family history of the Miskimins and Krog families, music, dancing, and quilting, but found the most joy in how she could share those interests with the people that were important to her.

To her extended family and many friends, Betty was an everflowing fountain of love and support.  Betty found a way to love people in a way that they truly needed. 

Blessed to have shared her life are her four sons Paul R. (Ellen) Miskimins, D.D.S., Mitchell; Dale W. Miskimins, D.V.M., Elkton, Scot P. Miskimins, Aurora, and James A. (Jeanice) Miskimins, J.D., Mitchell; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, dear friends and her brother Keith Krog, Mesa, Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Radean, her parents, two sisters and two brothers.