Bette L Sieg

Bette Lou Zimmerman Sieg, 88, first saw the face of the Savior she loves on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Born on April 10, 1938, in Grand Haven, Michigan, Bette was the daughter of Marcellus Leroy Zimmerman and Gladys Lorraine (Stiles) Zimmerman. She grew up in Washington, Illinois, where she attended Washington High School. And it was there, in May of 1956, that a man named Theodore "Ted" Sieg entered her life. Ted worked at a local gas station where Bette's school bus made its pickup. While waiting for the bus, she began stopping inside to talk with him. Four months later, on September 23, 1956, Bette and Ted were married in Beverly Manor, Illinois. What began with a few sweet moments of conversation before school became a marriage of 49 years. Together, they built a life filled with love.

One of Bette's favorite things to do was dance with Ted. And although Ted preceded her in death in 2005, the story they began together lives on in the family they raised and the generations that followed. Bette had a wonderful appreciation for beautiful things. She worked for six years at O'Deas Cleaners, an experience that left her with a lifelong conviction that laundry ought to be properly pressed. She later spent 16 years managing the jewelry counter at Belscot Department Store, retiring in 1988. It was there that she developed a love of beautiful jewelry. But some of the loveliest things Bette gave the world could not be worn or held. They could only be heard. An accomplished pianist and organist, Bette shared her musical gifts in churches and at school events throughout her life. She loved to sing, and southern gospel music held a special place in her heart. Music was more than something she enjoyed. It was one of the ways she added beauty into the lives of others. For Bette, the music has not ended. It has only become more beautiful. Bette was a member of Germantown Hills Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir. Her Christian faith was woven throughout her life, beginning in her youth. Baptized at 16, she spent the years that followed trusting the Savior she now sees face to face.

Bette is survived by her daughter, Katherine (William) Allen; her grandchildren, Barton Allen and Kayla (Joshua) Carroll; and her great-grandchildren, Isaiah and Ezra Carroll. She is also survived by her sisters, Marlene (Charles) Passero and Cynthia (Gene) Smick along with many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marcellus and Gladys Zimmerman; her beloved husband, Ted, and her son, Mark Sieg.

The family will receive guests on Wednesday, November 11, from 5-7 pm at Deiters Funeral Home in Washington. A funeral service celebrated by Pastor Mike Carlson will be held at Germantown Hills Baptist Church on Thursday, November 12, at 10 am. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memory Gardens in rural Morton following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Lifesong for Orphans, honoring Bette's memory by helping orphans and vulnerable children experience the love and security of family, through adoption.