Lila Verhulst, age 99 of Reeder, passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2011 at the Western Horizons Care Center in Hettinger.

Funeral services for Lila will be on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Reeder, ND. Rev. Stephanie Swanson will officiate and following a time of fellowship and lunch, burial will be at the Ralph Cemetery in Ralph, SD. Visitations will be from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 11 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Reeder and one hour prior to the service on Friday morning. A Family service will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening at the Church.

Lila Marie Denzin was born September 3, 1911 to Albert and Emelia Denzin in Harding County SD. She was the youngest of 8 children. Lila was baptized on November 17, 1915. She attended several different grade schools and attended high school in Gascoyne, ND, Scranton, ND and Belle Fourche, SD. Lila married Ed Verhulst on November 2, 1929. They moved to the Denzin place in Harding County where Ralph was born in 1930. They then moved to a ranch south of Reva, SD in the Slim Buttes where Jerry was born in 1934 and Dave in 1936. In 1937 they went back to Detroit, MI for 9 months and returned to Harding County, 3 miles SE of Ralph where they ranched until they retired. Ed passed away October of 1983. Lila remained on the farm until 1990 when she moved to Reeder ND. She has been a resident of Western Horizon's Care Center for the last 4 years.

Lila loved family events and especially drop in company. She loved fishing, knitting and playing cards. Ed and Lila liked to go to dances and traveled extensively throughout their time together. Lila loved to read and crocheted many afghans and mittens.
Lila was a member of Ralph Lutheran Church and later of Our Savior's Lutheran in Reeder ND. She was also a member of Lions, American Legion Auxillary and the knitting club in Ralph, Prairie Pioneers.

Grateful for having shared in Lila's life are her son, Gerald (Judy) Verhulst, Reeder, ND; daughters-in-law, Beatrice Verhulst, Reeder and Sidney Verhulst, Rapid City, SD; 13 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, 40 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Lila was preceded in death by her husband, Ed, her parents, two sons, Ralph and Dave Verhulst, seven siblings and two great grandsons, Paul Beach and Greg Oase, Jr.