The Mass of Christian Burial for Ella Braun, age 98 of Rapid City, formerly of McIntosh, will be held at 10:30am MT on Tuesday, July 29, at St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church in McIntosh. Fr Tony Grossenburg will officiate with burial in St. Bonaventure's Cemetery at McIntosh.


Special music will be provided by Leslie Niederman, organist.

Serving as casketbearers are Phil Ternes, Frank and Joe Mollman, John Cooper, Ed Block, and Wesley Niederman Jr.

ELLA NIEDERMAN was born January 14, 1910 in Grant County, ND. She was the oldest of five children born to Joseph and Anna (Hartinger) Niederman. She lived with her parents on the farm and attended a local country school as well as one year at St. Mary's Catholic School in Lemmon. Ella helped her parents on the farm and did domestic work for area farmers and ranchers. The Niederman family moved to the Apple Valley, MN area where they resided for one year before returning to the family farm north of Morristown where they continued farming and ranching. Ella helped her family and worked for her brother on the farm, dividing her time both on the farm and in Morristown.

Ella met Melchoir Braun and they were united in marriage at the Minor Catholic Church north of Morristown in 1957. They lived in McIntosh and traveled extensively to the Black Hills area, Wyoming and California. Her husband Melchoir passed way on August 17, 1962. Ella's mother Anna Niederman then came to McIntosh where they resided together until Anna's passing in April of 1983. A few months later, Ella moved into the Morningside Apartments in McIntosh. In June of 2003 she fractured a hip and moved to Rapid City where she has resided since. Ella passed away on Wednesday, July 23, at the Golden Living Center Prairie Hills in Rapid City.

Ella loved to embroider and make quilts. She enjoyed gardening and making homemade popcorn balls which was her specialty. She always had a pot of coffee brewing and could pour from a foot above the cup. She loved jello and served it for just about every meal.

She was a member of St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church.

Ella was full of laughter which lightened up the hearts, minds, and souls all who knew her.

Surviving family members include 1 brother and 2 sisters-in-law, Wesley and Alice Niederman, Elgin, ND; Mary Niederman, Morristown, SD; 7 nieces and 1 nephew.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 brothers, Edward and Thomas Niederman, and 1 sister, Matilda Eisenberg.