Louise Ulmer
November 26, 1918 ~ April 19, 2008
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Louise Ulmer, 89, of Miller, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2008 at the Miller Good Samaritan Center.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller with Father Chester Murtha officiating. Burial was in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Miller. Visitation was held from 2:00-5:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 22 at the Reck Funeral Home, Miller with a 7:00 p.m. wake service at the church.
Louise was born November 26, 1918 on the family farm near Orient, the second child of Casper and Jennie (Schlechter) Kluthe. She was educated at St. Laborious in Polo, a parochial school her father helped to start. From the time she was young, Louise loved her father’s barn dances, and it was probably here that her love for dancing was first sparked. It is obvious from old photos and stories that she knew how to have a good time, even in the middle of the South Dakota prairie.
Louise spent her senior year at Miller High school, and worked at the Coffee Cup Café in addition to being a diligent student. One teacher reported, “Louise Kluthe has been a very industrious student and the teacher thinks that she doesn’t need any improvement. At least one in the class!”
After graduation, she was recommended for a job by the National Youth Association. Her first assignment was to do the bookwork on easements for Highway 14 through Hand county. The year was 1937. She later did bookwork for the WPA Road projects in the county, and was paid 20¢ an hour for her efforts. Bookkeeping became her specialty, and her methods were considered the “Gold Standard”, and adopted for statewide use in 1951. She continued her career with Hand County, in a variety of roles, for 54 years.
One day in the early 1940s, Louise found out that her brother Ed was planning on going out with a friend that she felt was a bad influence. She said, “You certainly are NOT going to a dance with Bob Seeman!!” Shortly after that she and Bob started dating. After a 10 year courtship, they were married in Miller, in 1951. She lost him to cancer in 1966. She later married Herb Ulmer, of Ree Heights. He passed away in 1996.
There were few lives in Miller that Louise did not touch in some way. She was part of a tourism committee, and a team which provided a friendly welcome, local maps and information to weary travelers camping in Crystal Park. She delivered commodities and food stamps to people who were homebound, at her own expense and on her own time. For years, she typed the weekly bulletin at church, was a member of the Altar Society, and helped out in the kitchen for church activities. Over the years, she helped cater many weddings and other events in the Miller area. She was a founding member of the Tri-County Dance Club, and played in a local card club for more than 35 years. And she loved people.
Her contributions to her community were many, but her family will remember her for other things as well. She was a fantastic cook, and always had something on hand to feed starving grandchildren, and she could cook a meal for 30 and make it look effortless. She was never “too busy”, and had a knack for listening and a sympathetic ear. Every Sunday morning she served breakfast for whoever was around. She taught her grandchildren The Chicken Dance and helped them catch frogs. She frequently said, “If you don’t watch out for your kids, who is going to?” If you want a good definition of what Christian love looks like, you’d have to point to Louise. She always saw the best in everyone, generously gave the benefit of the doubt and made it a point to make visitors feel welcome in her home. She gave sacrificially of herself, her time, her attention and her love. She prayed for her family, and she talked of how her faith got her through the devastating times in her life. She was a loving and protective mother, a devoted daughter and daughter-in-law, a patient and kind mother-in-law, the perfect grandma, and she loved her family dearly.
Grateful to have shared in her life are her sons, Brian (Donna) of Miller, and Gary (Karen) of Rochester, MN; her grandchildren: Christopher, Adam, and Lexi; her brother, Ed Kluthe of Miller; several nieces and nephews, and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: Robert Seeman and Herb Ulmer; sisters: Magdalen Dailey and Hildegarde Donavan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Miller Good Samaritan Center, 421 East 4th Street, Miller, SD 57362.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller was entrusted with her arrangements.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller with Father Chester Murtha officiating. Burial was in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Miller. Visitation was held from 2:00-5:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 22 at the Reck Funeral Home, Miller with a 7:00 p.m. wake service at the church.
Louise was born November 26, 1918 on the family farm near Orient, the second child of Casper and Jennie (Schlechter) Kluthe. She was educated at St. Laborious in Polo, a parochial school her father helped to start. From the time she was young, Louise loved her father’s barn dances, and it was probably here that her love for dancing was first sparked. It is obvious from old photos and stories that she knew how to have a good time, even in the middle of the South Dakota prairie.
Louise spent her senior year at Miller High school, and worked at the Coffee Cup Café in addition to being a diligent student. One teacher reported, “Louise Kluthe has been a very industrious student and the teacher thinks that she doesn’t need any improvement. At least one in the class!”
After graduation, she was recommended for a job by the National Youth Association. Her first assignment was to do the bookwork on easements for Highway 14 through Hand county. The year was 1937. She later did bookwork for the WPA Road projects in the county, and was paid 20¢ an hour for her efforts. Bookkeeping became her specialty, and her methods were considered the “Gold Standard”, and adopted for statewide use in 1951. She continued her career with Hand County, in a variety of roles, for 54 years.
One day in the early 1940s, Louise found out that her brother Ed was planning on going out with a friend that she felt was a bad influence. She said, “You certainly are NOT going to a dance with Bob Seeman!!” Shortly after that she and Bob started dating. After a 10 year courtship, they were married in Miller, in 1951. She lost him to cancer in 1966. She later married Herb Ulmer, of Ree Heights. He passed away in 1996.
There were few lives in Miller that Louise did not touch in some way. She was part of a tourism committee, and a team which provided a friendly welcome, local maps and information to weary travelers camping in Crystal Park. She delivered commodities and food stamps to people who were homebound, at her own expense and on her own time. For years, she typed the weekly bulletin at church, was a member of the Altar Society, and helped out in the kitchen for church activities. Over the years, she helped cater many weddings and other events in the Miller area. She was a founding member of the Tri-County Dance Club, and played in a local card club for more than 35 years. And she loved people.
Her contributions to her community were many, but her family will remember her for other things as well. She was a fantastic cook, and always had something on hand to feed starving grandchildren, and she could cook a meal for 30 and make it look effortless. She was never “too busy”, and had a knack for listening and a sympathetic ear. Every Sunday morning she served breakfast for whoever was around. She taught her grandchildren The Chicken Dance and helped them catch frogs. She frequently said, “If you don’t watch out for your kids, who is going to?” If you want a good definition of what Christian love looks like, you’d have to point to Louise. She always saw the best in everyone, generously gave the benefit of the doubt and made it a point to make visitors feel welcome in her home. She gave sacrificially of herself, her time, her attention and her love. She prayed for her family, and she talked of how her faith got her through the devastating times in her life. She was a loving and protective mother, a devoted daughter and daughter-in-law, a patient and kind mother-in-law, the perfect grandma, and she loved her family dearly.
Grateful to have shared in her life are her sons, Brian (Donna) of Miller, and Gary (Karen) of Rochester, MN; her grandchildren: Christopher, Adam, and Lexi; her brother, Ed Kluthe of Miller; several nieces and nephews, and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: Robert Seeman and Herb Ulmer; sisters: Magdalen Dailey and Hildegarde Donavan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Miller Good Samaritan Center, 421 East 4th Street, Miller, SD 57362.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller was entrusted with her arrangements.
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I have many, many fond memories of Aunt Louise. I will miss seeing her at our family reunions and gatherings.
Your in my thoughts and Prayers. I have many fond memories of Aunt Louise and her Sunday Morning breakfast and also oyster stew on Christmas Eve. She was a great lady and I will miss her.
My thoughts and prayers are will all of you in Miller. Louise was very special to all of us as an aunt and catechism teacher and a friend. She knew how to put together a great party!!!!! I will miss her greatly.
Mary Kluthe Stack
I am sorry for your lose! You have my sympathy! Phil Brown, Son of Archie and grandson of Sophie