Betty Marie Louise Thiem was born May 8, 1927 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The daughter of Henry Lepper and his wife, Mary (Gick). She was born anew in the waters of Holy Baptism into Christ Jesus on May 22, 1927 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ft. Wayne, Indiana by Rev. Paul Dannenfeldt. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 6, 1941. Pastor Dannenfeldt gave Betty Philippians 1:2 as her confirmation verse – “Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Through her life, she continued a faithful participation in Christ’s means of Grace. On June 25, 1949, Betty married Rev. Alfred E. Thiem and moved to North Dakota where they spent their entire married life.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, parents, infant son, one sister, four brothers and one grandson.

She is survived by her seven children, 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Rebecca (Glenn) Thiem, Nancy (Josh) and Lucas; Deborah (Donald) Bickle, Katharine and Ross; Karen (Michael) Stirling, Jonathan (Lauren) and Laura (Mike); Joel Thiem, Benjamin, Aimee, Amelia and Matthew-(Sterling); Kristine (Al) Meyer, Jessica (Tracy)-(Chase and Hudson), Hanna (Adam), Emma (Taylor), Rebecca; Lisa (Todd) Vasichek, Alexa (Zeke); Sara (Kris) Nelson, Lauren and Grant