Betty Neigum

Betty I. (Wagner) Neigum, Bismarck, ND, went to heaven to meet Jesus on October 4, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 am Friday, October 7, 2016, at Church of Corpus Christi, 1919 N 2nd St, Bismarck, with Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Betty suffered from Alzheimer’s for decades. Her final resting place will be at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan, ND. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, October 6, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a vigil/rosary will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Betty was born to Adam and Martha (Walz) Wagner on September 22, 1942, at Forbes, ND. Betty was number seven of ten children. She graduated from Napoleon High School, Ellendale Teachers College and the University of Mary with a degree in Elementary Education. Betty married Ben R. Neigum, on August 9, l962; and three children were born to this marriage, Denise, Darcy and DeAnne. For 40 years, Betty taught elementary education in Pine River, MN; Bismarck, ND; Sheridan, WY; and Dickinson, ND. Betty was an administrative assistant as a curriculum and personnel director for the Dickinson Public Schools. Betty started Partners in Parenting in Bismarck, ND. Some of Betty's teaching honors include: 1990 - National Christa McAuliffe Teacher of the Year; 1990 - Official alternate North Dakota Teacher of the Year; 1990 - selected as one of the top 100 Teachers in the nation by Learning 90's Annual Professional Best Leadership Awards and 1991 - Dickinson Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year. Some of Betty's other professional achievements include: Author of A Novel Approach to Teaching Thinking Skills, published in Perception at Issue, book reviewer for Allyn and Bacon Publishing, initiator of Dickinson Public Schools Enrichment Plus after school childcare center, started Dickinson Teen Center and first Graduation Party, and started Partners in Parenting and Parent Communication Network in Dickinson, ND. Betty traveled extensively in North Dakota conducting numerous in service sessions for teachers. She was a presenter at North Dakota Education Association conventions. Betty loved her children and her extended family. She loved to travel, camp, golf, read books, take long walks, make craft projects, and gardening. Her dynamic personality will certainly be missed. Betty always had a warm smile and laugh for everyone. She had a loving heart and a willingness to help others. Betty is survived by her spouse Ben, of 54 years and her caregiver for the last fifteen years; her children, Denise (Michael) Dean of Torrance, CA, Darcy (Kimberly) Neigum of Bismarck, ND, and DeAnne Roth, Savage, MN; her grandchildren, Carina, Cayla, and Carson Dean, Emma and Aaron Neigum, Bailey Neigum, Elizabeth and Bennett Roth; her sisters, Ella Fuchs, Oakes, ND, Deloris (Alan) Wittich, Forman, ND, Carol (Douglas) Parrott, Sheridan, WY; her brothers, Herbert (Joyce) Wagner, Klamath Falls, OR, Clifford Wagner, Sun Lakes, AZ, Ruben Wagner, Pequot Lakes, MN, Milton (Shirley) Wagner, Bismarck ND, Kenneth (Jane) Wagner, Bismarck, ND; brother-in-law, Elmer Neigum, Napoleon, ND; sisters-in-law, Irene (Neigum) Gleason, Tucson, AZ, Mary Neigum, Wapheton, ND, and Louise Wagner, Fargo, ND; Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Adam and Martha Wagner; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred and Ann Neigum; brother, Leonard; brothers-in-law, George Neigum, Clinton Gleason and Marvin Fuchs; and sisters-in-law Marilyn Neigum, Jean Wagner and Sherry Wagner. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Alzheimer’s Association, 406 W. Main St., Suite 105, Mandan, ND, 58554, or the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 7401 Metro Blvd, Suite #325, Edina, MN, 55439.