Elizabeth "Betty" Dachtler

Elizabeth “Betty” Louise (Martel) Zenker Dachtler, 79, Bismarck, passed away September 10, 2025. Cremation has already taken place. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 19 at Faith Lutheran Church, 1402 E Ave C, Bismarck. Family visitation will take place one hour prior to service. A livestream will be available on the church's Facebook, listed here: https://www.facebook.com/faithlutheranbismarck/

Internment will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck.

Betty was born February 6, 1946 to John J. Martel and Erna (Boeshanz) Martel in Elgin, ND. She entered the world in a house rather than a hospital during a typical North Dakota winter. The new family lived in a tiny two-room house.

Betty’s family moved to Bismarck just in time for her to start school at Wachter Elementary School located then on S. 9th St. where she completed grades 1-6. Her fifth-grade teacher was Jeanette Myhre. Her next school was the old Bismarck Junior High for grades 7 through 9, which was then a building located just on the south side of Bismarck High. Her class was the last one held there. That summer, the old junior high was torn down and what is now Bismarck High School was expanded. Betty always loved school and was a good student. Her favorite thing was English and gymnastics and her least favorite was math. She really liked to read and she continued this hobby right up until her passing. Upon graduation in 1964, in the World War Memorial Building, she went to Bismarck Junior College for three semesters. She married Dennis Zenker, and to this union three daughters were born.

At the time of their marriage, Dennis was in the Army. The Vietnam conflict was taking many men overseas. Dennis was lucky to be stationed for his whole career at Fort Rucker, Alabama. For Betty, it was like moving to a “foreign land.” It was a “Little House on the Prairie” kind of girl going to what she believed would be “Gone with the Wind.” She was so wrong! Her time in Alabama was at the height of the Civil Rights movement. After his military service, Dennis and Betty moved around to different states but returned to beloved North Dakota.

Betty became involved with the BECEP Head Start Program in Bismarck where she served as Policy Council Chairman. It was during this time that she promoted the total family unit and the education process. Betty served as the National Policy Council Chairman for four years. She traveled and met with other parents across the United States to discuss their programs. She even shared the conference table during one of her travels with Captain Kangaroo, both speaking about the importance of the family unit for young Head Start students and all children.

Her most compelling occupation was driving school bus for the special-needs students of Bismarck, whom she dearly loved. She drove for 35 years until her retirement. She was called “Betty the Bus Driver” by students and staff for so long that it became her “other” name. Many will remember her as the flipflop bus driver as she always wore sandals for all seasons, even in the winter time. Betty loved the children and considered this the best job ever! When she wasn’t driving, she learned how to “wax on and wax off” because every summer all the buses in the Fleet were treated to a new coat of wax. After retiring, she traveled as much as she could. It seemed as though the asphalt road going kept calling her.

Betty enjoyed sewing for her family and quilting. She enjoyed doing crafts and giving her creations to family and friends. Her favorite tools were a hot glue gun, a good sewing machine, and a really sharp scissors.

Betty liked to collect lighthouses of all sorts and sizes. To her they represented Jesus as being the Light and way to Salvation. Betty was a good Christian lady. Her heart belonged to her Lord. She prayed often and always and believe that through Him, all things were possible.

She is survived by her daughters, Dennette Zenker, Bismarck, Gwen “Wendy” (Ryan) Backman, Bismarck, and Erna (Steve Smith) Flint, Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Christopher (Paityn Fode) Amble and their children, Calvin and Ridge, all of Bismarck, Brooklyn Zenker and her children, Wyatt and Jerilyn, all of Mandan, and Elizabeth “Ella” Zenker-Gunther, Virginia Beach, VA; sisters, Jennifer (Lonnie) Romsaas, Bismarck and Bequia (Aldo Cooper) Martel, Missoula, MT; brother, David (Janice) Martel, Port Angeles, WA; niece, Jodi (Ryan) Wolf and their children, Jaxton and Denver, Bismarck; nephew, Kirk (Carol) Romsaas and their son, Reed, Bismarck. She is also survived by her dear friend's: Avalyn and Wes Ennen, Lori and Mike Hilsendeger and Mitch Dachtler, as well as

her godchildren, Bradley Tibke, Steve Michlitsch and Elizabeth Dahlsad.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John J. Martel and Erna C. Lahr; maternal grandparents, Robert and Elizabeth Beoshanz; paternal grandparents, Theobold and Justine Martel.; step-fathers, Dr. John Cartwright and Ed Lahr; and step-sister, Debbrah Cartwright.

The family would like to thank CHI St. Alexius radiology and IR Departments. The family would also like to thank Essentia Health, especially Dr. Matthew Hamar and his staff. Betty appreciated and enjoyed every one of you wholeheartedly.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Bismarck Cancer Center or the charity of your choice.