Velma Tislau
July 6, 1907 ~ February 10, 2008
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Velma Tislau, 100, of Highmore, died Sunday, February 10, 2008 at the Highmore Healthcare Center.
Funeral services were held at 10:30a.m., Friday, February 15, 2008 at the United Methodist Church, Highmore with Pastor Jenene Earl officiating. Burial was in the Highmore Cemetery, directed by Luze Funeral Home of Highmore. Visitation was held from 4:00-7:00p.m., Thursday, February 14 with a 7:00p.m., prayer service at Luze Funeral Home in Highmore.
Harriet Velma was born to Conrad and Myrtle (Foster) Sunding on July 6, 1907 in Highmore. Her family also included two brothers, Herbert and Welcome and two sisters, Lorna and Ercel, she was the second child. Everyone called her Velma, which is actually her middle name.
She received her education at Highmore School. Her job was to take care of her brothers and sisters and help with the housework. She married Gottlieb Heckenlaible, Jr. “Heck” on December 29, 1930 in Sioux Falls. They farmed south of Highmore and eventually, purchased a section of land long Highway 47, where they raised their son, Ronald. After a number of years, Ronald and his wife took over the farm and Velma and Heck purchased a business in Highmore.
She and Ronald continued to operate the business following her husband’s death on November 2, 1958. After selling the business, she moved to South Beloit, Illinois and lived with her cousin, Amy Morgan. She married Louis Tislau on September 8, 1967 and moved back to Pierre in 1985, where they lived until his death in 1994. She returned to Highmore, where she made her home in the Highmore Manor until she became a resident of Highmore Healthcare in 2004.
She loved spending time with her family, ladybugs, eating cookies and ice cream, watching the birds and animals, catching big fish, playing bingo, spending time at the senior center and being with her friends, which were a big part of her life. On July 7, 2007, she celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and friends. After 100 years, Velma stilled loved to visit with her family and friends. Velma really enjoyed listening to your stories and sharing her bits of wisdom. She was known for her sayings and advice. Some of her favorites were “Stay close to family and friends and walk everyday” and “What is better than people having fun? More People.” “See you later alligator, when your legs are straighter.”
Happy to have shared her life is her son: Ronald (Betty) Heckenlaible of Highmore; grandchildren: Steve (Sally) Heckenlaible of Aberdeen, Cindy (John) Meinen of Mitchell, Mary Lee (Mark) Klebsch of Holabird, Ronnie Allen (Joanne) Heckenlaible of Ft. Pierre, and Gary Heckenlaible of Rapid City; seven great grandchildren: Bob Klebsch (Special Friend Becky) and his son Darin of Lake Mills, Iowa, Jeremy Meinen of Key Largo, FL, Jared Meinen of Mitchell, Ethan and Cody Heckenlaible of Ft. Pierre, and Brittney and Roland Heckenlaible of Rapid City; and sister: Lorna (John) Penny of Skokie, IL.
Departed loved ones are her parents; husbands: Gottlieb Heckenlaible, Jr. and Louis Tislau; brothers: Herbert and Welcome Sunding; sister: Ercel DeWolf; and great grandchild: Jesse Klebsch.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore was entrusted with her arrangements.
Funeral services were held at 10:30a.m., Friday, February 15, 2008 at the United Methodist Church, Highmore with Pastor Jenene Earl officiating. Burial was in the Highmore Cemetery, directed by Luze Funeral Home of Highmore. Visitation was held from 4:00-7:00p.m., Thursday, February 14 with a 7:00p.m., prayer service at Luze Funeral Home in Highmore.
Harriet Velma was born to Conrad and Myrtle (Foster) Sunding on July 6, 1907 in Highmore. Her family also included two brothers, Herbert and Welcome and two sisters, Lorna and Ercel, she was the second child. Everyone called her Velma, which is actually her middle name.
She received her education at Highmore School. Her job was to take care of her brothers and sisters and help with the housework. She married Gottlieb Heckenlaible, Jr. “Heck” on December 29, 1930 in Sioux Falls. They farmed south of Highmore and eventually, purchased a section of land long Highway 47, where they raised their son, Ronald. After a number of years, Ronald and his wife took over the farm and Velma and Heck purchased a business in Highmore.
She and Ronald continued to operate the business following her husband’s death on November 2, 1958. After selling the business, she moved to South Beloit, Illinois and lived with her cousin, Amy Morgan. She married Louis Tislau on September 8, 1967 and moved back to Pierre in 1985, where they lived until his death in 1994. She returned to Highmore, where she made her home in the Highmore Manor until she became a resident of Highmore Healthcare in 2004.
She loved spending time with her family, ladybugs, eating cookies and ice cream, watching the birds and animals, catching big fish, playing bingo, spending time at the senior center and being with her friends, which were a big part of her life. On July 7, 2007, she celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and friends. After 100 years, Velma stilled loved to visit with her family and friends. Velma really enjoyed listening to your stories and sharing her bits of wisdom. She was known for her sayings and advice. Some of her favorites were “Stay close to family and friends and walk everyday” and “What is better than people having fun? More People.” “See you later alligator, when your legs are straighter.”
Happy to have shared her life is her son: Ronald (Betty) Heckenlaible of Highmore; grandchildren: Steve (Sally) Heckenlaible of Aberdeen, Cindy (John) Meinen of Mitchell, Mary Lee (Mark) Klebsch of Holabird, Ronnie Allen (Joanne) Heckenlaible of Ft. Pierre, and Gary Heckenlaible of Rapid City; seven great grandchildren: Bob Klebsch (Special Friend Becky) and his son Darin of Lake Mills, Iowa, Jeremy Meinen of Key Largo, FL, Jared Meinen of Mitchell, Ethan and Cody Heckenlaible of Ft. Pierre, and Brittney and Roland Heckenlaible of Rapid City; and sister: Lorna (John) Penny of Skokie, IL.
Departed loved ones are her parents; husbands: Gottlieb Heckenlaible, Jr. and Louis Tislau; brothers: Herbert and Welcome Sunding; sister: Ercel DeWolf; and great grandchild: Jesse Klebsch.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore was entrusted with her arrangements.
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Our prayers are with your family. Velma was a wonderful lady that led a long and great life!!!