Grace Wik

Funeral services to honor Grace’s life and to worship her Savior was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 9, 2010 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Paul Smith officiating. Burial followed in Millard Cemetery, rural Faulkton. Visitation was held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 8, 2010 followed by a 5:00 p.m. prayer service at Luce Funeral Home in Faulkton.

Grace Lillian was born November 21, 1913, at home on her parents’ farm near Athol, South Dakota, to Axel and Emma (Peterson) Riser. She grew up in a happy home where her parents modeled a strong work ethic and lived out their faith by loving and serving others—things Grace continued throughout her life. She attended country grade school at Willowdale School and graduated from Athol High School in 1931. After attending one year of teacher’s training at Northern Normal in Aberdeen, Grace returned to Willowdale School as a teacher for three years, with a salary of $60 a month.

On June 14, 1935, Grace married Milton Wik and moved to the Wik family farm at Millard, S.D. After their marriage, she taught in rural Faulk County schools, two years at the Millard School and one year at the Reed School. On the farm she worked alongside Milton, devoting herself to their three children, maintaining their home, raising chickens, gardening, and working in the field when needed. The two continued with farm life as stewards of the land, trusting God to lead them throughout the sixty-three years of their marriage until Milton’s death in 1998.

Grace was active in Missionary Society, Saratoga Susies Extension Club, teaching Sunday school, assisting with 4-H club activities, and helping her neighbors. Later, she joined the Faulk County Retired Teachers organization. She especially enjoyed the relationships with those in the Wecota Ladies Birthday Club. She spent many hours studying God’s Word, and her special passion was attending and leading Faulkton Christian Women’s Bible studies.

Grace saw her life’s purpose as being a servant, and as such, she generously gave of herself to her family, her friends, and all whom she met. She cheerfully opened her home to people from all around the world—sometimes for months at a time. She will be remembered for her love, her integrity, her generosity, and her kindness. She never sought the limelight for herself, but always wanted God to receive the glory.

Privileged to have shared her life are her three children, Richard (Jean) Wik of Faulkton and Ft. Myers, FL; Robert (Nancy) Wik of Gregory, SD; and Marilyn (Jim) Schlekeway of Mobridge, SD; seven grandchildren, Steve (Janet) Wik of Faulkton, SD; Lori Wik of Maple Grove, MN; Scott (Deana) Wik of Buena Vista, CO; Sherri (John Burress) Crain of Rapid City, SD; Todd Schlekeway of Sioux Falls, SD; Tami (Andy) Boehnke of Tea, SD; and Jennifer Pochop of Spearfish, SD; five great grandchildren, Allison and Susan Wik, Nicole Wik, Amanda and Portia Crain, and one great great granddaughter, Ryannah Kennedy.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Maude and Ruth, her husband, Milton, one daughter-in-law, Vera Wik, and five great grandchildren, Thomas Pochop and Braden, Avery, Austin, and Brock Boehnke.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Millard Cemetery Association, 35052 154th St, Faulkton, SD 57438 or the Faulkton Area Medical Center, PO Box 100, Faulkton, SD 57438.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Grace's arrangements.

MINISTER
Pastor Paul Smith

CASKETBEARERS
David Olen
Don Olen
Lance Olen
Marlin Newman
David Speck
Gerald Barondeau

USHERS
Harold Hadrick
Gene Herman

ORGANIST
Diane Hansen

SOLOIST
Jean Wik
     "I See Jesus"
Deana Wik
     "Thank You"
Robert Wik
     "Going Home"

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
"Amazing Grace"
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"

INTERMENT
Millard Cemetery
rural Faulkton, South Dakota