Ruby May Mathis, 92, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Letcher, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Dec. 3, 2020. 

A graveside service was held Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Letcher.  Visitation and a prayer service were held Monday, Dec. 7.

Ruby was born Dec. 10, 1927, to Ethan and Ruby (Hale) Sample near Highmore.  The family moved to Clear Lake when she was around two years old. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1945. At 17, Ruby joined the Cadet Corps and graduated from the Methodist School of Nursing in 1948. She received her anesthesiology training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Ill., and worked at both Methodist and St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Mitchell.  It was during this time that she met Ernest Mathis. On Jan. 16, 1955, Ernest and Ruby were married in Mitchell, moved to the family farm, and enjoyed 60 years of marriage. To their union, six children were born.

She is survived by her children, William (Lisa) Mathis of rural Letcher, Robert Mathis of Sioux Falls, Elaine (Randy) Sorenson of Sioux Falls, and Linda Powell of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and two more on the way.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ernie; two sons, Owen and Terry; five siblings; numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law; and her nursing classmates of 1948.   

Bus (Olen) Ettswold, 68, of Letcher, died Nov. 26, 2020, at Huron Regional Medical Center. 

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Letcher Community Church in Letcher. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Friday April 16, 2021, at the Will Funeral Chapel, Mitchell. Burial will be at Butler Cemetery in rural Letcher.

Bus was born on Aug. 13, 1952, in Letcher to A.C. and Dorothy (Kelly) Ettswold. He grew up in the Letcher area and graduated from Letcher High School in 1970. On March 15, 1980, he married Melanie Wise in Letcher. They made their home in Letcher. After his retirement from ABC Co., he developed the Wrangell Roadhouse Condos in Alaska. Bus always enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and with many great friends. In his earlier years, he enjoyed stock car racing. More than anything, Bus loved his family, especially his grandkids, whether it was in Letcher or Wrangell, Alaska.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Melanie; his children, Angie (Matt) Meier, Andy (Melissa) Ettswold, and Jerome (Angie) Evans, all of Letcher; seven grandchildren; three sisters, Diana Campbell and Delores (Dee) Mutziger of Mitchell and Polly (Tom) VonEschen of Noblesville, Ind.; sister-in-law, Lori (Cal) Bratland of Letcher; and his many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, A.C. and Dorothy; father-in-law, Ken Wise; and brother-in-law, Leroy Mutziger.  

Muriel “Mike” Schmidt, 79, of Mitchell, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, at the Avera Brady Health & Rehab in Mitchell. 

Funeral services were held Monday, Nov 30, at St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation was held at the church on Sunday, Nov. 29, with scripture service. The service was live streamed on YouTube, Fr. Kevin Doyle.

Mike was born to LeRoy and Marie (Dusek) Meyer on June 10, 1941, in Mitchell. She graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1959. Mike’s early working years took place at the Lane Bar, and she retired after many years at Van Dykes in Woonsocket.

Mike and Albert were married on Nov. 28, 1959. They went on to have six children, Greg, Doug, Jim, Allen, LaDeen, and Steve. She spent her years loving her family, laughing with Albert, being a Christian, bowling, rummaging, reading books, crossword puzzles, and enjoyed having some coffee with her friends in town.

She is survived by her children, Jim Schmidt, Allen (Anita) Schmidt, LaDeen (Kyle) Krueger, Steve (Amber) Schmidt; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and siblings, Mark (Sandy) Meyer, Patricia (Don) Wenzel, and Janice (Bill) Eining.

Mike was preceded in death by her grandparents; parents, LeRoy and Marie; husband, Albert; sons, Greg and Doug Schmidt; grandson, Chris Neuheisel; and sisters, Jackie, Vicki, and Jeanne.