Elizabeth "Betty" Barbara (Marquart) Sperle, 88, died on July 28, 2020 at her home in Napoleon, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 1, 2020 ­at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Napoleon with the burial to follow at St. Philip Neri Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 31, 2020 from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. For the safety of all, the family requests all attendees wear face coverings. There will be no reception following.

Betty was born March 21, 1932 to Bernard and Clementine (Kuhn) Marquart at the family farm two miles northwest of Napoleon.  She attended a nearby country school through eighth grade and graduated from Napoleon High in 1949.  After attending Valley City Normal School, she taught for 6 years in country schools around Napoleon and also lived and worked in Bismarck for a time.

Betty married Peter Sperle on August 27, 1955 at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church.  They lived four miles east of Napoleon for a year before taking over the Marquart farm where Betty had been born and raised.  Between 1956 and 1978, the family grew to include twelve children.

Standing just under five feet tall, Betty was in perpetual motion for decades—raising the children, running the household, working the farm, and serving the community.  Her devout faith kept her very active in the church, participating in numerous church groups and committees, singing in the choir, and teaching religion classes.  For many years, the front left pew was unofficially reserved for the Sperle family for the late Sunday mass.

On top of children, church and chores, Betty found time to serve as school board president as well as on many other school committees and organizations.  She was also a member of Logan County Historical Society and local Homemakers groups.  Through the years, she enjoyed crafting and sewing, sometimes creating eight dresses in a day to have her daughters dressed up for an Easter mass.  Her large garden always helped feed the family throughout the year.  Betty and Pete retired and moved into Napoleon in 2010.  Well into her later years, she continued to attend bible studies and volunteer at the church and at Napoleon Care Center.  She always had on a hot pot of coffee, ready to host visitors and play a game of cards. She continued to cherish the days she could gather with her family and dote on her growing flock of grand- and great-grandchildren.

Betty is survived by 12 children: Paula, Anaktuvak Pass, AK; Patricia, Bismarck; Gregory (Michele), Park Rapids, MN; Mary Meyer, Napoleon; David (Darika), Wichita, KS; Duane (Teresa), Hawarden, IA; Cynthia (Mike) Gee, Jamestown; Terri, Sioux Falls, SD; Lisa (Greg) Schmitz, Dilworth, MN; Michelle (Mel) Sperle-Berg, Howard Lake, MN; Dennis (Sharleen), Flagstaff, AZ; Rebecca (Christopher) McKinney, Napoleon; 5 sisters: Phyllis Roemmich, Janet Scholl, and Marion (Duane) Thiel, all of Bismarck; Marjorie Jackson, Olympia, WA; Sandra (Rick) Harris, Anderson Island, WA; 1 brother: Bernard Marquart, Napoleon; 3 sisters-in-law: Ann Cederberg, Casselton; Theresa Sperle, Monterey, CA; Christine Gross, Napoleon; 1 brother-in-law: Richard (Harriet) Sperle; 29 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Clementine (Kuhn) Marquart; husband, Peter; 3 brothers-in-law: Ervin Roemmich, Richard Scholl, and Jesse Jackson; 1 infant brother, and 1 infant son.

In lieu of flowers and food, the family requests those who knew Betty consider a donation in her name to the charity of your choice.

A Livestream of Betty's Service will be available on the St. Philip Neri Catholic Church Facebook page.