Mrs. Betty Rose Mead, age 93, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, formerly of Madison, South Dakota, died Sunday, March 6, 2016 at her son's home in Oakfield Township.  The daughter of Daniel W. and Ula (Morgan) Gile, she was born on November 14, 1922 in Madison, South Dakota.  Betty Rose grew up in South Dakota where she graduated from Central High School.  She gained her excellent work ethic  while working through high school.  While employed in Sioux Falls, S.D., in a "Rosie the Riveter" job, she met a young soldier, just back from the Pacific Theatre and teaching radio at the Army-Air Force base.  Betty and Freeland "Fred" Mead were married on March 31, 1945.  They lived in Del Norte, CO, Adrian, MN, Vermillion and Meckling, S.D.  It was in Adrian that she accepted Christ as her Savior.  Betty served as Post Master in Meckling for many years.  

She and Fred were sponsors for the CYF youth for many years.  This ministry helped bring about a generation of men and women who continue to faithfully serve The Lord.  After Fred's ordination, Betty served as a dedicated pastor's wife in churches in North and South Dakota.  She and Fred retired to Alcester, South Dakota where she lived until 2015 when she moved to Rockford, Michigan where her son and daughter-in-law live.  Betty was known for her gifts of hospitality and friendship.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Fred; two brothers, Dene and Merle Gile; two sisters, Hazel Studer and Ruth Topping; and sisters-in-law, Margurite Gile, Betty Gile and Gloria Gile.  

Those blessed to remember her calm, caring ways are her daughter, Barbara and Ronald Holthe of Logan, Iowa; her son Rev. Daniel and Barb Mead of Rockford; her seven grandchildren, Daniel and Jennifer Mead and  Matthew and Tina Mead, all of Rockford, Nathan and Jennifer Mead of Arizona, Froi Mead of Holland, Jonathan and Kelli Holthe and Sara Jane Holthe, all of Iowa, Serena Holteh and her husband, Ross Jones of Washington DC.; and her eight great-grandchildren, Logan, Graceyn, Noah, Megan, Lincoln, Leal, Bria and Emmy.  Also surviving is her sister, Mae and Kenneth Buthe; her brothers, Clifford and Ray Gile; a sister-in-law, Donna Gile; and many other relatives and special friends.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 10th at Calvary Baptist Church (12501 Montcalm Ave NE), where local funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. R. Mark Shaw, officiating.  To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Betty's online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit:  www.ChristiansenCares.com