Eloise Lydia Ringsaker

Eloise L. Ringsaker, age 91, Watertown, SD, formerly of New Effington, SD, died Monday, June 12, 2017, at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown.

Funeral services will be Saturday, June 17, at 2:00 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington with Rev. Scott Dempster officiating.

Burial will be at a later date in the Claire City Cemetery, Claire City, SD. Urn bearers will be her five sons, Arley, Lewis, Clark, David and Daniel Ringsaker.

Visitation will be Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Eloise Lydia Kumm Ringsaker was born February 11, 1926, to Wesley and Lorena (Faragher) Kumm in Watertown, SD. She was the middle child of seven siblings. Eloise grew up on the family farm in the South Shore/Waverly area and graduated from South Shore High School in 1944. She moved to Sisseton to work for the Sisseton Courier as a linotype setter and became friends and roommate with Lucille Solberg who would later introduce Eloise to her Uncle "Red."

On February 17, 1947, Eloise married Lewis Ringsaker. Together they raised a family of eight, living in the communities of Claire City, Sisseton and New Effington until his death in 1986.  Despite her busy home life, Eloise continued to work, finding positions at Landsberger Creamery, Sisseton Hospital and Tekakwitha Nursing Home. She was most proud of her work with NESDCAP starting many of the Senior Nutrition Programs and Centers in the communities of three counties.

Eloise stayed involved with the Senior Program after retiring and also worked as a Foster Grandparent and served on the Watertown Housing Board after she moved in 1995. Eloise would be seen at football and basketball games cheering for sons and grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling to spend time with family. She had a lot of road trip and Amtrak stories to share. Eloise was a whiz at games, especially cards and showed no mercy just because you were 7.

There was no "quit" in this woman.

Eloise is survived by two daughters, Beverly (Lloyd) Schrader of Claire City, SD, and Bonnie (Guy) Harris of Kewaskum, WI; five sons, Arley (Diane) Ringsaker of Milbank, SD, Lewis Ringsaker of Claire City, Clark (Carol) Ringsaker of Watertown, David and his life partner Rochelle Hehn of Hankinson, ND, and Daniel Ringsaker of Hawley, MN; son-in-law, Randy Habeck of Jamestown, ND; 24 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Eloise was preceded in death by her parents; husband; siblings; daughter, Mary Habeck; and a great-granddaughter, Kreedence Hehn.