Elaine Huisman
June 30, 1925 ~ March 24, 2008
Elaine J. Huisman, 82, of Miller, passed away Monday, March 24, 2008 at the Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller
Funeral services were held at 2:00p.m., Thursday, March 27, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Burial was in G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller, directed by Reck Funeral Home of Miller. Visitation was held from 5:00-7:00p.m., Wednesday, March 26, at Reck Funeral Home, Miller followed by a 7:00p.m. prayer service.
Elaine June was born in the Glendale Township family home on June 30, 1925. She was the youngest of seven children born to John and Mabel (Holmes) Gaudig. She graduated from Miller High School in 1943 and later attended Teacher’s training in Spearfish. Elaine taught school two years before she married Dean Huisman on January 26, 1945. Dean and Elaine farmed in Glendale. In addition to being a wife and mother, she was a stock tender, gardener and all around hired hand on the farm. She had a zest for keeping busy. She worked from 1977 to 1990 as the entry clerk for the Horse Department for the South Dakota State Fair. In her later years, she worked in Miller as a Job Service receptionist; clerk-typist at the City Hall; and as a Library assistant. She enjoyed helping out the people in the Hand County Courthouse.
In her spare time, she might be baking, visiting with people or volunteering to help out. She devoted a lot of time to the community’s 4-H youth. In 2006, she was the proud recipient of the “Heartland Saddle.” She treasured that award.
Elaine and Dean loved the pheasant and deer season. It brought friends and relatives to their door. Strangers who stopped in would quickly leave as friends. It didn’t matter how many or what time of day—a meal was on the table in no time.
Her memory will be cherished by her three children: Diana (Bob) Tong of Miller, Gloria (Dave) Myers of Ipswich, and Bernie (Ginger) Huisman of Miller; two grandsons: Rob and Jeff Tong of Miller; two granddaughters: Stephanie Lacher of Ipswich and Holley Huisman of Miller; three great grandchildren: Amanda, Ryan and Tyler Lacher and one sister: Ethel Palmer of Rapid City.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers and three sisters.
Pallbearers were Bud Gaudig, Leslie Gaudig, Monte Reichert, Wilbur Johnson, Dennis Brennan, and Randy Christoperson.
Kristi Prince played the organ with Anita Fremark and Wanda Stevens singing, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "One Day At A Time."
Reck Funeral Home of Miller was entrusted with her arrangements.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. I loved working with your Mom at the State Fair. We worked many years together, long hours and hard work, and she always so easy-going had a smile on her face. She was an all-round great person.
Elaine was a great and fun woman to be aroudnd, she had worked a the libary and was a great friend to everbody,she is in a better place but she is still in our heart and for the family i am sorry to hear the lose of Elaine
My sincere sympathy in the loss of Elaine, She will be remembered and missed by all. I had her and Ethal both as teachers, but I don’t remember what grades. I also helped Elaine during the summer, when you lived over by Elmer’s.
Elen Kay