Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Betty Lounell Thiel, 74 of Spearfish, SD, passed away Friday, November 30, 2018. She was born in Lubbock, TX, December 21, 1943 to Charley and Ruby Forbus.

Lounell married Gerald Parks in 1965 in Houston, TX. Together they had two wonderful children. In 1994, she married the late Thomas Thiel of Worland, WY and later divorced in 2015.

 She received her degree in education at Eastern Montana College in Billings, MT. She enjoyed gardening, scrapbooking, traveling to visit family and friends, and attending her grandchildren’s events.

Lounell became a Middle School PE teacher in 1984. She touched many lives during her years of teaching. She was well known for her contagious laugh, humorous twisting of words and infamous southern drawl. She retired from teaching in 2013 and moved to Spearfish, SD in 2015 to be closer to family.

Lounell is survived by her daughter, Cherity (John) Lamphear of Chicago, IL; son, Randy (Heidi) Parks of Spearfish, SD; her grandchildren Halle and Cade Parks; her sister, Audrey Wilcher and niece, Mandy (Jeff) Race of Colorado Springs, CO; and her niece Jennifer (Patrick) Krohn of Ogden, UT. She is preceded in death by her parents, late ex-husband Thomas Thiel and other family members.

Funeral services will be at 11:30 AM on Friday, December 7, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish with visitation beginning at 10:30 AM. A luncheon will be served immediately following the funeral. 

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at http://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com