Betty Jean (Brockel) Opp, owner of Betty's Quiltery in Rapid City, passed away on November 7, 2023, after a five month battle with gastric (stomach) cancer.

For the last 12 years, Betty lived her dream of owning a quilt shop.  She loved helping new and experienced quilters choose the perfect fabrics, colors, and patterns for their first/next project.  She was always willing to help with a problem, be it quilting or personal.  Betty was previously an antique dealer with a store in the downtown Rapid City Antique Mall.  Like her eye for fabric and color, Betty had an eye for fine tableware, pottery, and antique furniture.  She was happiest when she was creating, whether it was quilting, beading, planting a garden, arranging flowers, making candles, or knitting.   Her creativity (especially with fabric) was her special gift.

Betty loved competitions of all kinds.  She coached her daughter's softball team during the 1980's and fittingly, a former player from that team was one of her Hospice House nurses.  Betty zealously followed the SD Mines men's and women's basketball teams and often used her coaching voice from the stands.  She loved and attended American Legion baseball games as well.

Betty came up with unique ideas to use in promoting her store.  A couple of years ago, she had the idea to support Feeding South Dakota by giving a piece of fabric for each can of food donated.  It was a huge success with the quilting community donating several thousand pounds of food that day.  Of course, no one recognized what it cost Betty in the form of the donated fabric.  She would have been embarrassed for any such recognition.  She gave of herself without seeking pats on the back.  She touched many lives and made many friends along the way.

Betty Jean Brockel was born on August 11, 1942, in Mobridge, SD to Reuben and Viola Brockel.  She attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD where she met and married Roger Opp on June 3, 1962.

Betty is survived by two daughters: Susan (Evan Deneris), Stacey (Michael) Arens; her daughter-in-law Dee Opp; six grandsons:  Andrew and Zach, Colin and Camrin, Jacob and Isaac; her sister Nila Kraft; her sister-in-law Darlane (Larry) Hoffman; her brother-in-law Calvin (Becky) Opp; four nieces and one nephew:  Carmen, Kim, Kirsten, Kelly, and Christopher.  She was preceded in death by her son, Stuart, her husband, Roger, her parents, Reuben and Viola Brockel, and her grandparents.

The staff of Betty's Quiltery will host an open house in remembrance of Betty on Sunday, November 26, 2023 from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the space formerly occupied by Juniper Restaurant next to the quilt shop. There will be a slide show, some of Betty's favorite music, coffee, hot apple
cider and, of course, cookies! This will be an opportunity for all of us who held Betty near and dear to support one another in our grief, share some fun stories, and have a big hearty laugh in her honor. There will be a short presentation at 12:30 p.m. but the rest of the time will be for mingling.

A celebration of Betty's life will be held at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Gastric Cancer Foundation ( https://gastriccancer.org ), the Betty and Roger Opp Athletic Scholarship administered by the Center for Alumni Relations and Advancement, 330 E Kansas City St, Rapid City, SD 57701, or to your chosen charity in her name.