Betty Ann Nielson Betty Ann Nielson from Santa Fe, New Mexico,

December 14 – Betty Ann Nielson Betty Ann Nielson of Santa Fe, New Mexico, age 85, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Brookdale Senior Living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was born on February 9, 1939 in Custer, South Dakota to Grant and Evelyn Alvina (Oines) VandenBerg, the second of four children. She attended public schools in Brookings, South Dakota and graduated from Brookings High School in 1957. She went on to graduate from the South Dakota Beauty Academy in 1958 in Sioux Falls. Betty married John M. Nielson on August 14, 1958 in Brookings and they had one daughter, Krista May. In 1963, the family moved from Brookings to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where John began his career at Sandia National Laboratories. During their 62 years of marriage, John and Betty settled in Brookings, Sioux Falls and Lake Poinsett, South Dakota; Livermore, California; and Albuquerque and Santa Fe. They enjoyed every move, buying, renovating and selling every property, and Betty took great pride in decorating, furnishing and maintaining every home in which they lived. Betty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. known for her warm heart, generous spirit and quick wit. She cherished her family and friends deeply and was always ready to provide a listening ear, a kind word and lots of hugs. Betty had a natural gift for making everyone feel welcome and special. She maintained lifelong friendships, especially with the close-knit group of high school women known as the “Dillies.” Her vibrant personality and sense of humor made her the life of the party, while her impeccable taste and talent for interior decorating always shined through. Betty’s selflessness, kindness and joy touched the lives of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and remembered for the love and joy she brought to those around her. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, John; father, Grant; mother, Evelyn; brother, Leo; and sister, Gloria. She is survived by her daughter, Krista Zappe and husband Steve; two grandsons, Estevan “Stev” Ortega and Nicolas “Nico” Ortega, both of Santa Fe; three great-grandsons, Nicolas, Cruz and Camilo Ortega; her sister, Judy Messerschmidt and her husband Loyal of Sioux Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews. She faithfully read her Bible and grew in her faith through expository Bible studies. We are convinced that through her faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord, Betty has achieved the goal of her faith: the salvation of her soul. No memorial service is planned. In 2025, the family will place Betty and John’s ashes in the Nielson family plot during a private committal service at Eventide Cemetery in Woonsocket, South Dakota.