Betty Lou Allen was born April 20, 1937 in old Washabaugh County, South Dakota to Orval Pete and Margaret (Dithmer) Allen. She grew up with her brother, Richard, and attended rural grade schools in Washabaugh County. She graduated from Kadoka High School in 1955.

Betty Lou’s first job was working at the Long Valley store in the summer of 1948. She then worked for Leslie and Thelma Handcock in the summers until she graduated high school. She attended teaching classes in Spearfish and taught one year at the Pleasant Hill and Brunsch schools.

Betty Lou was united in marriage to Wilbur “Joe” Stratton on June 9, 1956. Betty Lou and Joe moved to Billings, Montana where Joe had gotten a job at Firestone Tire while they were on their honeymoon. Their oldest two children, Cynde and Dick, were born in Montana. The couple returned home to South Dakota in July, 1958.


Betty Lou started working for the City of Kadoka in February 1979 and worked for there until she retired in April 1999. After she retired, she worked part-time for Myron Lindquist. In their retirement, Betty Lou and Joe owned several rental houses in Kadoka. After Joe died on July 3, 2017, Betty Lou moved to Pierre where she resided until her death.

Betty Lou was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, the Kadoka Lion’s Club and the Kadoka Ladies’ Auxiliary. She also served as an EMT for the Kadoka Ambulance for over 16 years.

Survivors include two daughters Cynde (Dennis) Stoakes of Hartford and Rose Ann (Greg) Wendell of Pierre; one son, Dick (Phyllis) Stratton of Hartford; a granddaughter Anna Stoakes-Wong (Nathan Wong) of Valley Springs and a grandson Preston “PJ” (Daniela) Stoakes, Danny, PJ and Michelle of Lincoln, Nebraska; five step-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joe, her parents and her brother, Richard Allen.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial service at the church.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Kadoka Bible Church with Pastor Gus Craven officiating.

Interment will follow at the Kadoka Cemetery.