Peggy Jane Bettcher
July 7, 1933 - February 23, 2026
OBITUARY
Peggy Jane Bettcher passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 23, 2026, at the age of 92, in Stockton, California. She was born on a farm July 7, 1933, in Tripp County, South Dakota, to the late Oscar Orville Papke and Lela Beatrice (Hopkins) Papke.
Peggy was a joy to be around and faced life’s hardships with her great, quirky sense of humor. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family, including her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Peggy was employed at Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado, for 22 years until her retirement in 1995. Later that year, she moved to Stockton, California. She cherished attending family reunions in Winner, South Dakota. Peggy enjoyed walking her dog, reading, baking, and embroidering, and she was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Stockton.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Darrel M. Bettcher; her son, Douglas M. Bettcher; her grandson, Sol J. Neely; and her sisters, Neva Papke, Janis Papke, Avis (Papke) Hansen, and Judy Papke.
She is survived by her two daughters, Tona (Bettcher) Neely Mills of Brier, Washington, and Doreen (Bettcher) Spohn of Stockton, California; three grandchildren, Steven Neely of Jenison, Michigan, Jason Spohn of Sacramento, California, and Amy (Spohn) Haarstad of Santa Rosa, California; and five great-grandchildren, Kalista Neely, Sol Neely, Mila Neely, Carl Haarstad, and Lena Jane Haarstad; three siblings, Merva Cobb of Oklahoma, Bill Papke of South Dakota, and Larry Papke of California, along with many other family members and friends who will greatly miss her joyful spirit.
A private family burial will be held at Cherokee Memorial Cemetery in Lodi, California on March 20th.
Celebration of Life
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Service at Zion Lutheran Church, 808 W. Porter Avenue, Stockton California on April 11th, 2026 at 10:00am.
Please leave your condolences below.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Bettcher family.