Betty Erschens, age 88 of Virginia and formerly of the Brookings area , died on Monday March 24, 2014, in Virginia. Visitation will be from 9:30 -10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2014, with a scripture service at 10:00 a.m. at the Eidsness-Zink Funeral Chapel in Elkton, South Dakota. Burial will follow at Elkton in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Betty Agnes Miedema Erschens was born on May 26, 1925, to Steve and Bertha Miedema at Hitchcock, South Dakota. She attended Country Payne School for eight years and graduated with high honors from Hitchcock High School. Betty graduated from General Beadle State Teachers College in Madison, South Dakota. Following college, she taught elementary students in Hitchcock and a number of years in country schools. She returned to Madison, South Dakota and taught a number of years at Garfield Elementary School. While living in Madison, Betty met her future husband. She and Francis Erschens were married in Madison on September 29, 1959. They lived on the family farm in Lincoln County, MN and Betty continued teaching for many years in Lake Benton, Minnesota. She retired after thirty-two years as a teacher. Following retirement, they enjoyed living in Arizona for many years. Betty loved to play the piano, garden and sew her own clothes. Betty is survived by her son, Joseph and his wife, Angie of Herndon, VA; grandsons, Michael and Zachary; two sisters, Aldora Remschel of Rapid City, SD and Anna Fay Brock of Webster, SD; several nieces and nephews and sister-in-law, Theresa Erschens of Brookings, SD. She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis, her parents and two brothers-in-law, Roger Remschel and Keith Brock. Condolences may be sent to Joseph Erschens: 836 Moffett Forge Rd. Herndon, Virginia 20170.