After a lengthy battle with lymphoma, Connie Deffert Bettmann passed into eternal rest and happiness on December 28, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at the age of 65. She was born and raised in Denver and graduated from JFK High School. During her high school years she became an accomplished athlete where she placed second in the state for long distance running. Having studied accounting at Metro State, she worked as a professional bookkeeper and accountant before her recent retirement.

Connie was proud of her German heritage and was a lifelong member of the Denver Kickers Sports Club in Golden, Colorado. Since her youth, she was an active participant in Bavarian dancing with the Denver Kickers Schuhplattler group performing for various Oktoberfests and other events throughout the state. Connie loved music and was an accomplished Country Western dancer winning first place in a national dance competition in California. She went on to the Tanya Tucker National dance competition at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and placed in the top ten finalists. Connie loved to travel and particularly enjoyed road trips and visiting family and friends throughout the country and in Europe. She was also passionate about all sports, especially hockey and baseball. Connie enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, jogging and hiking. She especially loved riding on the back of the Harley Davidson motorcycle and touring with her husband, Rudy. Known for her radiant smile and outgoing personality, Connie will be sorely missed by her family and a multitude of friends.

Survivors include her loving husband and companion of twenty four years, Rudy, her mother Ellie Deffert, Littleton, CO; her sister, Lisa (Steve) Mulqueen, Littleton, CO; two brothers, Joe (Leslie) Deffert of Louisville, KY and Ernie (Aileen) Deffert of Meeker, CO; four nieces and nephews (T.J., Megan, Kyle and Shannon). Connie was preceded in death by her father, Joe, in 1997 and nephew Shane in 2011.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4 at the Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary. Concluding services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Osheim-Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City, So. Dakota, followed by interment in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Rapid City.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Connie's memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org or to your favorite charity.