Official Obituary of
Ethel B. Propst
March 23, 1922 ~ July 17, 2017 (age 95) 95 Years Old
Ethel Propst Obituary
Ethel B. Propst, age 95, of Goodwin, SD, passed away on Monday, July 17, 2017, at a care center in Clear Lake, SD. She was the widow of Ralph Propst. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. Rev. Michael P. Enderle will officiate. Music will be provided by Elaine Almos with congregational singing. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 1:30 p.m. for a prayer service.
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Clear Lake. Honorary pallbearers will be Ethel's great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers will be her grandchildren.
Ethel was born on March 23, 1922, to Ernst and Clara (Timm) Stroschein on the family farm in Hidewood Township, homesteaded by her grandparents. She enjoyed her childhood, growing up on the farm with her six brothers who have always referred to her as "Sis." As a child, Ethel was a member of the Congregational Church in Estelline, SD. She attended country school at Norman School District #39. The Stroschein family was left motherless in 1933 and fatherless in 1941. At the age of 19, Ethel met the love of her life, Ralph Propst, at a house party dance. With Ralph being called into active duty during WWII, a long distance romance continued until the end of the war.
Ethel and Ralph were united in marriage on Ethel's birthday, March 23, 1949, at the Trinity Lutheran Parsonage in Clear Lake. In their early years together, Ethel cooked for their construction company and gave birth to her first two daughters, Joan and Susanne. In 1956, the family moved to Goodwin. Over the next years, they joyfully added Ralph A., Lisa and Nancy to the family.
Ralph passed away in 1984. At the age of 64, Ethel began her career as a cook at the Goodwin School until its closing and also for the Good Samaritan Society until her retirement at the age of 79. During these years, she studied and received her G.E.D.
She was a faithful member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church and a very active member of the Tabea Society in Goodwin. She served the Lord in many capacities by teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and caring for the church for many years as the church custodian. Ethel served her community well as Goodwin School board member, VFW Auxiliary member, 4-H project leader and as an election official. She wrote the Goodwin News for the Clear Lake Courier for over 50 years.
Ethel was a loving mother. Her family was her treasure. She enjoyed cooking and homemaking and was famous for her homemade buns which she shared at many events. In addition to cooking and baking, Ethel enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and food preservation. Polka music, dancing and traveling were her favorite recreations. She also enjoyed hosting and attending Ralph's reunions of his WWII Army Engineering Company. A huge part of Ethel's time was spent hosting family birthday parties and holiday gatherings. She truly loved her four sons-in-law who always fought over her sour cream raisin pie. Ethel was very proud of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and "in-law" grandchildren and enjoyed attending their activities and spending time with them.
Ethel is survived by four children: Joan (James) Theisen of Canby, MN, Ralph A. Propst of Goodwin, Lisa (Donald) Tesch of Watertown, SD, and Nancy (David) McClanahan-Severson of Gary, SD; one son-in-law, Larry Kueter of Tempe, AZ; seven grandchildren: Jonathan (Angela) Theisen, Maria (Aaron) Petersen, Matthew J. (Pamela) Tesch, Rebecca A. Tesch, Cassandra Propst, Clarissa (Derek) Klemm and Tyler (Holly) McClanahan; five great-grandchildren: Abbygail, Tahlia and Mason Theisen and Elijah Petersen and Lucas Tesch; two brothers, Marvin (Beverly) Stroschein and Vernon (Shirley) Stroschein, both of Estelline, SD; and two sisters-in-law, Elaine Stroschein of Clear Lake and Oriska Stroschein of Estelline. She was also blessed with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; one daughter, Susanne Propst-Kueter; one stillborn son; her parents; and four brothers: Earl, Ellis, Leon and Clarence.
Blessed be her memory.
Committal
Saturday July 22, 2017 Time: TBD
When: July 21, 2017 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
When: July 22, 2017 2:00pm
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church
Address: 405 3rd Ave N Lake Norden SD SD 57248
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Clear Lake. Honorary pallbearers will be Ethel's great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers will be her grandchildren.
Ethel was born on March 23, 1922, to Ernst and Clara (Timm) Stroschein on the family farm in Hidewood Township, homesteaded by her grandparents. She enjoyed her childhood, growing up on the farm with her six brothers who have always referred to her as "Sis." As a child, Ethel was a member of the Congregational Church in Estelline, SD. She attended country school at Norman School District #39. The Stroschein family was left motherless in 1933 and fatherless in 1941. At the age of 19, Ethel met the love of her life, Ralph Propst, at a house party dance. With Ralph being called into active duty during WWII, a long distance romance continued until the end of the war.
Ethel and Ralph were united in marriage on Ethel's birthday, March 23, 1949, at the Trinity Lutheran Parsonage in Clear Lake. In their early years together, Ethel cooked for their construction company and gave birth to her first two daughters, Joan and Susanne. In 1956, the family moved to Goodwin. Over the next years, they joyfully added Ralph A., Lisa and Nancy to the family.
Ralph passed away in 1984. At the age of 64, Ethel began her career as a cook at the Goodwin School until its closing and also for the Good Samaritan Society until her retirement at the age of 79. During these years, she studied and received her G.E.D.
She was a faithful member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church and a very active member of the Tabea Society in Goodwin. She served the Lord in many capacities by teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and caring for the church for many years as the church custodian. Ethel served her community well as Goodwin School board member, VFW Auxiliary member, 4-H project leader and as an election official. She wrote the Goodwin News for the Clear Lake Courier for over 50 years.
Ethel was a loving mother. Her family was her treasure. She enjoyed cooking and homemaking and was famous for her homemade buns which she shared at many events. In addition to cooking and baking, Ethel enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and food preservation. Polka music, dancing and traveling were her favorite recreations. She also enjoyed hosting and attending Ralph's reunions of his WWII Army Engineering Company. A huge part of Ethel's time was spent hosting family birthday parties and holiday gatherings. She truly loved her four sons-in-law who always fought over her sour cream raisin pie. Ethel was very proud of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and "in-law" grandchildren and enjoyed attending their activities and spending time with them.
Ethel is survived by four children: Joan (James) Theisen of Canby, MN, Ralph A. Propst of Goodwin, Lisa (Donald) Tesch of Watertown, SD, and Nancy (David) McClanahan-Severson of Gary, SD; one son-in-law, Larry Kueter of Tempe, AZ; seven grandchildren: Jonathan (Angela) Theisen, Maria (Aaron) Petersen, Matthew J. (Pamela) Tesch, Rebecca A. Tesch, Cassandra Propst, Clarissa (Derek) Klemm and Tyler (Holly) McClanahan; five great-grandchildren: Abbygail, Tahlia and Mason Theisen and Elijah Petersen and Lucas Tesch; two brothers, Marvin (Beverly) Stroschein and Vernon (Shirley) Stroschein, both of Estelline, SD; and two sisters-in-law, Elaine Stroschein of Clear Lake and Oriska Stroschein of Estelline. She was also blessed with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; one daughter, Susanne Propst-Kueter; one stillborn son; her parents; and four brothers: Earl, Ellis, Leon and Clarence.
Blessed be her memory.
Committal
Saturday July 22, 2017 Time: TBD
Service Details.
Visitation
When: July 21, 2017 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Service
When: July 22, 2017 2:00pm
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church
Address: 405 3rd Ave N Lake Norden SD SD 57248
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In Loving Memory Of
Ethel Propst
March 23, 1922-July 17, 2017
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