Betty (Elizabeth) B. Spanton

Betty “Elizabeth” B. Spanton, age 93, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at Jenkins Living Center where she was a resident for the past 6 years. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Watertown.  Father John Fischer and Father Denis Meier will be the celebrants.  Music will be provided by Jane Jaspers as the organist and Becky Lubbers as the song leader.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Monday from 5-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Active pallbearers will be Nancy Hagen, Bob Spanton, Charlie Ewalt, Credan Ewalt, Kenny Ewalt, and Bill Ewalt.

Betty was born on December 1, 1932 to Frank and Rose (Kwasniewski) Ewalt in Webster, SD. She was the youngest of nine children and grew up on the family farm near Webster and Grenville, SD.  She attended school at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Grenville and then attended Mount Marty High School in Yankton, SD. After graduation she went to beauty school in Watertown; that came in very handy when it was time for family haircuts.

Betty married the love of her life (Swede) on July 23, 1953 in Milbank, SD and they enjoyed 67 years of marriage together. They first lived in Milbank and in 1955 moved to Watertown where they raised their three sons and one daughter. She worked at Herberger’s Department Store, Midland National Life and finally at Wells Fargo Bank.

Betty’s life was always about her devotion to her family and her church. Throughout her whole life she had an unceasing love for her husband and children; being there for them and supporting them in the best ways she knew how.  She also had a great love for her parents, brothers, sisters, in-laws and the many nieces and nephews, plus numerous friends.

Betty was a founding member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. She wore her faith on her sleeve and practiced it tirelessly. She was actively involved with various ministries which included singing in the choir, Eucharistic minister, lecture and administrative duties. Doing the readings at mass and singing in the choir were two of her favorites. She was also involved in many other activities at church as well as with helping out the Knights of Columbus.

Betty loved life and all who were around her. She especially enjoyed spending time with relatives and friends. She could be serious when needed but also had a great sense of humor. She always sought out ways to be of service to those in and around her life. She was a woman of love and faith.

Survivors include her children; Greg (Frank) Spanton of Cathedral City, California; Mike (Josie) Spanton of San Carlos, California; Brent (Diana) Spanton of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Lori (Jim) Waba of Watertown, South Dakota; her grandchildren: Ashley (Nate) Blom, Zachary (Andrea) Waba, Mike (Katie) Spanton, Brian Spanton; her step grandchildren; Vanessa (Marcello) DiCicco, Joel Ramirez, Vivi (Kevin) Ramirez; great-grandchildren; Hunter Blom, Jackson Blom, Jameson Waba, Jovie Waba, Francis Spanton; step great-grandchildren; Scarlett Johnson, Steven Spanton, Aria Spanton, Noah Spanton, Dexter Tomlinson, Sophia Tomlinson, Elliot Tomlinson, Jude Erwin, Lincoln Erwin; her sister-in-law, Genny Ewalt, of Grenville, South Dakota; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Swede Spanton; her parents, Frank and Rose Ewalt; her sisters, Connie Ozlowski, Verna Wieczorek, Anna Hoffman, and Monica Barkdoll; her brothers, Edmund, Valery, John, and Daniel Ewalt; her parents-in-law, Ed and Mabel Spanton; sister-in-law, Gervaise Lee; and brothers-in-law, Owen and Robert Spanton.

Betty’s family wants to extend their deep appreciation and gratitude for all the staff at Jenkins Living Center that took such good care of her while she as a resident in Reflections and Pine Village.  Special thanks to Pastor Scott and Hospice.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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