Betty Helen Marie Okelberry

Betty Helen Marie Okelberry, 92, our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, surrounded by family.

She was born on October 28, 1933, in Yankton, South Dakota, to Ernst Henry and Dora Wilhelmina Hachmeister. Betty grew up in Yankton and attended school there until her family moved to Ogden, Utah, when she was 10. They lived in Ogden for 2 years during World War II, then returned to Yankton until Betty was 16, when the family moved back to Ogden permanently. She was born and raised Lutheran and later baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Betty met the love of her life, Richard Harold Okelberry, in Ogden, Utah. They were married on August 15, 1952, in Burley, Idaho.

Betty was a devoted homemaker until all of her children were in school. She later worked various jobs before becoming a CNA. She worked at Crestwood Care Center for 10 years and retired in 1984. After retirement, she lovingly cared for her grandchildren and served as a childcare provider for many family members and friends.

When Betty was younger, her dad had a band in Yankton, and she played the piano and sang for him. Next to her family, music was her lifeline, and she continued to listen to it until her final days. Betty was well known for her cooking‒especially her generous use of butter. She enjoyed watching the Utah Jazz and Heartland, socializing, sitting outside on one of her many swings, tending to flowers, and admiring her beautiful tricolor European beech tree.

Betty is survived by her five children, Rocky Okelberry; Tami Christison; Bill (Jill) Okelberry; Teri Spiers (Marni Montgomery); and Richie (Valerie) Okelberry; 10 grandchildren, Jason (Jamie) Perkins; Brandon Okelberry; Krystle Abbott; Oaks (Sara) Okelberry; Eric (Ashley) Okelberry; Austin (Stephanie) Okelberry; Zach (Morgan) Okelberry; Tyler (Caitlin) Okelberry; Bailie (Weston) Clark; and Brynlee Okelberry; 21 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ernie Hachmeister and Jake (Glenda) Hachmeister; and one sister-in-law, Margaret Hachmeister.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Okelberry; her parents; her brother, Carl Hachmeister; sisters-in-law, Jean Hachmeister, Lillian Osterhout, Rachel Martindale, Rhea Okelberry, Elda Okelberry, Pat Okelberry, Betty Okelberry and Betty Osterhout; brothers-in-law, Verl, Joseph, Myron, and David Okelberry, Wynn and Devon Osterhout, and Blaine Martindale; son-in-law, Ron Christison; and daughter-in-law, Kathy Okelberry.

To know Betty‒Mom, Grandma, GG‒was to love her. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 N. Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd.

The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to Glenda Hachmeister for her loving care and support.