Funeral services for Ethel B. Wacker, age 95 ½, of Bowman, formerly of Lemmon, SD will be held at 2:00 p.m. MT, Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon. Pastor Ken Miller will officiate with burial in the Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.

Special music will be provided by Marilyn Willey.

Serving as casketbearers will be her grand and great-grandchildren.

Ethel Gratz Wacker was born August 31, 1913 to Father William Gratz and Ollie Folkers at Baueroft, near DeSmet, SD. She married Herb Wacker, April 5, 1932 and to this union was born three children, Sylva Goetz, Donald Wacker, and Dale Wacker.

Ethel and Herb built the Summerville Store 12 miles south of Lemmon and made their home there from 1949 to 1958. Summerville was a great place for fisherman to get gas, minnows, chicken-in-the-basket, and waffle fries. In 1958, they sold their business and moved to Lemmon. Following the death of her husband, Ethel worked for Riddle's Jewelry for many years. Ethel continued to live in Lemmon until August of 2008, when she moved to Bowman, ND to live her near son and daughter-in-law.

She was a wonderful seamstress, making many clothes for herself, her children and her grandchildren. She also made quilts for all of her family and crocheted many sweaters for her granddaughters. Ethel loved playing cards, solving crossword puzzles and reading western books. Ethel also enjoyed traveling with her family. She was a member of the Lakeside Ladies Homemakers Club for many years.

Ethel remained very active, only slowing down the last few years. She kept close to her home and only ventured out on Holidays.

Ethel passed away January 23, 2009 at the Southwest Healthcare Center in Bowman, ND.

Ethel was dearly loved by her daughter, Sylva Goetz, Thunder Hawk, SD; her son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Liz Wacker, Bowman, ND; her grandchildren, Dave and Carol Goetz, Broken Arrow, OK, Steve and Robin Goetz, Billings, MT, Tyson and Sara Goetz, Billings, MT Brenda and Shari Wacker, Dickinson, ND, Debra and Kevin Johnson, Sun Marcus, CA, and Craig and Heather Wacker, Rapid City, SD; and several great and great-great grandchildren.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Herb; son, Donald; grandson, Brady Johnson; and two brothers, Alfred and Albertina "Pete" Gratz and John Gratz and Agnes Gratz.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 27 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.