Betty Darlene Parlet was born on Jan. 11, 1946, in Winner, South Dakota and died on Aug. 7, 2023, in San Luis Obispo, California after a lengthy battle with lymphoma.
Betty’s early years were spent on a farm near Millboro, South Dakota until her parents bought their farm southwest of Winner when Betty was 12.
Betty graduated from Winner High School in 1964. She attended Black Hills State University for a year before returning to Winner and beginning a job at Ranchers National Bank. She married John Parlet in 1966. They moved to California and raised two daughters, Darci (Parlet) Turner and Joy (Parlet) Underwood. John and Betty were in the restaurant business for more than 30 years.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Mildred (Bertram) Kaiser and her brother, Gary Kaiser, all of Winner. She is survived by her daughters, Darci Turner and her husband, Jeff Turner, of Ridgecrest, California, Joy Underwood and her husband, Lane Underwood, of Freeburg, Illinois, six grandchildren, Madison (Turner) Cleveland and husband, Cory Cleveland, of Oak Hills, California, Jacob Turner of Ridgecrest, California, and JD Underwood, Matt Underwood, Moriah Underwood, and Bethany Underwood of Freeburg, Illinois. In addition, Betty leaves one great grandchild, Auroara Cleveland of Oak Hills, California. She is also survived by her former husband, John Parlet of Orange County, California. Betty’s sister, Norma Keiser and husband, Chuck Keiser, of Winner are left to mourn her loss. Betty will also be missed by many brothers and sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews. Those include Jacque Kaiser of Winner, Jack and Ellen Storms of Winner, Harold and Veda Parlet of Sioux Falls, Tom Parlet and Mona Garcia of Banning, California, Don and Eileen Shibley of Ridgecrest, California, Kevin and Jaime Keiser and family, Nicole Keiser, of Winner, Jennifer (Kaiser) and Daron Uthe and family of Sioux Falls, Crystal Parlet of Banning, California, Brian Parlet of Banning, California, Tyler Storms of Orange County, California, as well as Judd and Shawna Kaiser and family, Jeff and Marit Kaiser and family, Blake and Emily Tideman and family, and Grady and Sarah Myers and family, all of Winner.
In every place that Betty lived, she left a mark. In the over 25 years Betty lived in Ridgecrest, Calif., she was a contributor to the community in so many ways. She shared the values of her South Dakota upbringing with a whole generation growing up in an isolated desert town. Betty and John employed so many young people through John’s Pizza. One of the reasons these people loved working at John’s Pizza was because John and Betty cared so much about their employees. Betty would host staff parties at their home, and she was the glue that held everything together. She was a woman of faith, a wife, a mom, a businesswoman, a volunteer, and a contributor to all local causes. She served for years on the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital Board of Directors and was responsible for planting many of the trees and gardens in Ridgecrest. Betty lived in San Luis Obispo, Calif., the last 20 years of her life. She loved San Luis Obispo and made so many warm memories and lasting friendships. Her home was always open, and she was happiest when it was full. Her bible study groups, PEO sisters, bridge clubs, and family – always family – had a home in her home. She gave real meaning to the word “gracious.” The lives of so many family members and friends have been forever altered by her loss, yet they have all been blessed to have had such a beautiful bond with our sweet Betty.
A celebration of life service will be held for Betty Parlet on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 1 to 3 pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner. The family hopes that you can stop by to visit and celebrate a life well lived.
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