Sylvia Nancy (Betz) Van Gerpen, 96, Rapid City died Saturday Feb. 26, 2011 at Westhills Village Healthcare Center. She was born in Avon, SD on Sept 17, 1914 to John and Elizabeth (Vilhauer) Betz. Sylvia graduated from Avon High School in 1932 and attended Sioux Falls College and Northern State College in Aberdeen. She taught in a rural school at Marvin, SD in 1937 and was employed by Gelfand Stores from 1938 to 1940. Sylvia married Ernest Van Gerpen June 7, 1940 in Avon. She was employed by Ben Franklin and Donaldson’s department stores in Rapid City and taught in a preschool provided for Ellsworth Air Force Base Woman’s Missionary Circle at First Baptist Church. She gave book reviews for various organizations in the community and worked as a volunteer in offices issuing ration cards during World War II. Sylvia is survived by two sons, James (Sandra) of Sioux Falls and Donald (Linda) of Rapid City and one granddaughter, Danielle, Denver, CO. She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-nine years, Ernest, her parents, one brother, Chester J. Betz of Sioux Falls, two sisters, Lucille Bangert of Waco, TX and Estie Betz of Avon and an infant daughter, Mary Lynn.