Betty Lenihan

Betty LaVerne Lenihan passed to her eternal resting place on July 29, 2025. She was 98 years old.

A Funeral Service will be held Monday, August 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck. Family will be receiving friends and relatives one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Betty was born to Wallace and Lillian Anderson near Wilton on October 3, 1926. She attended a rural elementary school near her home and often rode in a horse drawn sled in the winter to get there. Later, she graduated from Wilton High School in May of 1944 and often talked about the fact that most of the boys had to leave high school to go off and serve in World War II.

She began working at the Dime Store in Bismarck in the candy department after high school. It was while she was there, she was spotted by a board member of Huff Hills School and he noticed her kindness and efficiency and thought she would be a great teacher. She was asked to live with their family and teach grades 1-8 on an emergency certificate. The following summer she enrolled at Dickinson State Teacher’s College and attended the teacher’s convention ball where she met the love of her life, Mert Lenihan. It was love at first sight as he picked her out of the crowd because of her beauty and her bright red dress. If he sent her flowers on a special occasion, it was always red roses to match that dress.

Betty and Mert were married on June 15, 1949, at Trinity Lutheran Church and to this union two children were born, Nancy and Tom. They resided on a farm in the Baldwin area until the mid-nineties when they moved to a condo in Bismarck.

Betty was a bright, classy lady who worked on several boards and volunteered for many organizations. She served as chairman of the Burleigh County Farm Bureau Women. She was also a leader in many organizations, most notably YMCA, RSVP, 4-H Clubs and Folkfest. She also taught in three different elementary schools, Ecklund, Huff Hills and Baldwin during her early years and spent numerous days as a substitute teacher. After she quit teaching full-time, she raised her children and beautified the land on which they lived.

Blessed to have shared her life (and delicious homemade chocolate cake with thick frosting) are her children, Nancy (Jim) Martin and Tom (Boni) Lenihan; grandchildren, Joshua (Raenae) Martin, Matthew (Sophie) Martin, Casey (Jay) Crowley and Carly Lenihan. She was a very special great Betty to 8, Tatum, Parker, Grady, Kirra, Teagan, Kade, Brooks and Chloe. She leaves behind one sister-in-law, Wanda Fischer and one aunt, Esther McMullin.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Merton Lenihan; parents, Wallace and Lillian Anderson; 3 siblings, Margie Cleveland, Yvonne Bailey and Bobby Anderson; sister-in-law, Cleo Asbridge and many other family members.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church at https://www.trinitybismarck.com/ or Caring Edge Hospice at https://caringedge.com/.