BettyLou was born September 25^th, 1928, in Douglas, Wyoming to George Lesley (GL) and Myrtle (Paisley) Robinson. She was the last of 8 children: Edithe, Bernice, Ruth, Ken, Frank “Bob”, George, Ann and BettyLou. There was a 20-year span between Edithe and BettyLou. She spent her first years on Antelope Creek in central Wyoming near Verse (which is now renamed Bill.) Much of her growing up years during the “Dirty Thirties” involved moving from place to place wherever they could find enough grass and water for the horses her father trained. She told how the moves meant a new school almost yearly for her. One early school year was even spent in a sheep wagon with her sister, Bernice, who was teaching at Brown Creek country school nearby. Another year she was sent to Oshkosh Nebraska to live with her aunt because there was no school near their home.

Eventually the family moved to southeastern Montana where she went to school near Biddle and then one year of high school in Broadus. The next move was to the Powderville area so she attended her senior year at Custer County High School in Miles City. Due to the many moves she had to spend an extra half year at CCHS to make up a required credit in Montana history. She loved music and played saxophone in band but was most known for her beautiful singing voice. She excelled in choir and had a brief stint as a supper club singer at the old Cross Roads Inn in Miles City.

It was while attending her senior year that she was unofficially introduced to who would become her husband, Jim. She was hit by a paper airplane from the back of Study Hall but didn’t know until later that it had been Dad who launched it. After graduating, the official introduction came at a dance at the Spring Creek School by Marie Krutzfeldt. Marie had told her that Jim was shy and would come late and stand at the door so she would do the matchmaking for them. Jim Thulesen and BettyLou were married on November 25^th, 1950. From this union was born David, Dick, Karen, Steven and Elizabeth.

She and Jim farmed and ranched the place on Corral Creek, MT until it sold in 1974. They then moved the family to Miles City. While in Miles City, she altered wedding dresses, started a kindergarten school, and opened a Christian bookstore. She was involved in ladies’ Bible studies and Christian Women’s Club. Later, she worked at the fabric shop.

After the death of her youngest son, Steve, to Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2000, Jim & BettyLou moved to Sheridan to be near their youngest daughter, Libby. BettyLou loved to garden and had great success with African violets inside and roses outside. She enjoyed sewing and crochet and excelled in embroidery creating many beautiful pieces with perfect tiny stitches. In 2005 they moved to Newell, South Dakota to be near their other daughter, Karen. While there she cared for her sister Ann who had become blind, started a ladies’ Bible study, and developed an interest in politics. She cared deeply for our country and was vigilant about praying for our leaders and letting everyone know who shouldn’t be in office! In 2013, they moved back to Sheridan to be near doctors they liked. At 85 years old she and Jim built a carport on their home by themselves! It was in Sheridan on December 30^th, 2023 that BettyLou passed away at 95 years of age from complications with congestive heart failure. She was preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings, her son Steve, and her husband, Jim. She is survived by her sons David, (Lynn) and Dick, (Thi Ha Loan), and daughters Karen, (John Brennan) and Libby, (Mike Morris), 5 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 10:30 am at Grace Bible Church in Miles City, MT with Pastor Sean Carney officiating. Interment will then take place next to her husband and son in the Custer County Cemetery. A reception will follow back at the church.

Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

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