Betty M. Hainy, age 89, of Mitchell, SD died Saturday, November 21, 2015 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab. Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at First Lutheran Church with burial at the American Legion Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Betty Hodgson, daughter of Charles and Matie (Hendricksen) Hodgson, was born on a farm southwest of Wessington Springs, SD on September 19, 1926 She grew up in the Wessington Springs area and attended country school and Wessington Springs High School. Betty received her second grade certification from Northern State Teachers College, her state certificate from Wessington Springs Junior College, her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1959 and her Master's Degree from USD in 1963.

She was united in marriage with Clarence Hainy on June 30, 1946 in Wessington Springs, SD. Betty taught school for 50 years in South Dakota, seven years in Jerauld County and 43 years at the Mitchell Elementary Schools. She continued to substitute teaching for 10 years after her retirement. Betty helped in rewriting the South Dakota State Language Arts course of study. She was named the South Dakota State teacher of the year after having been Mitchell teacher of the year in 1964.

Betty was a member of First Lutheran Church in Mitchell and the Mitchell Beautification Committee. She held offices in Delta Kappa Gamma (the local chapter) and served in the State Offices and also served as the President of Delta Kappa Gamma. Betty also a member of MEA, PTA, SDEA, NEA, served in all offices of UCT, the Strike and Spare Bowling League, AAUW, a 50 year member of the Eastern Star, PEO, VFW Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, Beta Sigma Pi, the Mitchell Garden Club, the American Association of University Women, Association for the Education of Young Children, United Commercial Travelers Auxiliary Lakeview Golf Club, Moose Auxiliary, Corn Palace Rock Club, the Optimist Club and the Firesteel Master Gardeners and held state offices of H.W.E.

Grateful for having shared her life are her nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence on December 31, 2013; her parents; four sisters, Georgia Hodgson, Norma Jeanne Hodgson, Verna Winter Locke and Zaida Ruth Winter; one brother, Charles Maynard Hodgson.