Armista Nora Wheelhouse, 93 years, 3 months, 3 days, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Center of Miller.

Visitation will be at the Rembold Funeral Home Sunday June 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

Funeral services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Miller with the Rev. Mary Ann Sheldon officiating.

Burial will be at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller.

Friends and family may sign her online register at www.rem-boldfuneralhome.com.

Armista was born on March 20, 1916, near Alexandria in Hanson County, South Dakota, to Frank and Nina (Parker) Kerkhoff. She was the oldest of eight siblings. At age 3 her family moved to the St. Lawrence, S.D., area. She had to leave high school after her freshman year to help care for her siblings and work at home. She later worked as a housekeeper where she met her future husband, John Wheelhouse. They were married on Oct. 15, 1935. After becoming a farmer’s wife, they lived around Miller, Onida, Bushnell, Sioux City, Orient, and St. Lawrence.

They moved to Miller in 1959 and operated the Miller Mobil Milling for several years. She worked as a waitress at Namany’s and Lipp’s cafes for several years. She also was the office manager for the Miller Mobile Milling.

Armista was a member of the United Methodist Church for over 50 years and was involved in the activities of the church, teaching Sunday school for many years, holding positions locally, and in the district and conference. She was actively involved with the Methodist Women until her health forced her to move into the assisted living. Armista volunteered in the American Cancer Society and was awarded for 25 years as service chairman. She was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, Business and Professional Women, nursing home and women’s clubs and was a 4-H leader. Mom was honored for volunteering at the Good Samaritan Center in crafts and the dining room at age 92.

Armista’s main goal in life was to give of herself. She liked to walk, make greeting cards, crochet, play cards, paint wooden items made by her husband and bake for her family friends and shut ins. In 1976 she completed her personal goal of a high school diploma.

She is survived by her three children, Dolores Masker of Mitchell, Roger (Merrylee) of Mount Vernon, Wash., and Richard (Joyce) of West Sacramento, Calif.; her sisters, Agnes Mc Kenzie of Marion, Lois (Melvin) Rodney of Miller, Geraldine (Ernie) Green of Spirit Lake, Idaho, Lillie Mae (Verlin) Brenner of Junction City, Kan., and Betty Raubuck of Winlock, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, Kathy (Michael) Marr, Jeffrey Masker, Lisa Schilling, Tracey (Kermit) Eckelbarger, Randy (Paige) Wheelhouse, Emily (Doug) Howard, Aaron (Jennifer) Wheelhouse, Cristine (Robert) Sperry, Curtis (Nancy) Wheelhouse, Joanna (Jason) Baker and Elizabeth Marr; 17 great-grandchildren, Jennifer Bailey, Trenton (LeAnna) Bailey, John (Mariah) Bailey,  Ryan and Garrett Schilling, Tia and Meagan Sperry, Kyle and Christi Dressen, Brenden Eckelbarger, Kylie and Gage Wheelhouse, Sabrina and Ryan Wheelhouse, Calvin Wheel-house, Joanna (Jason) Baker and Lizzi Marr; eight great-great-grandchildren, Calvin, Silas and Malcolm Barker, and Cheyenne, Megan, Devon, Cara and Addison Bailey; and sisters-in-law, Ellen Wheelhouse of Highmore and Mary Bradke of Portland, Ore.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years on Dec. 28, 2000; her parents; three brothers, Frank, Lawrence and Russell; granddaughter, Kay Ann; grandson, James; and son-in-law, Donald Masker.

Rembold Funeral Home of St. Lawrence has been entrusted with Armista’s arrangements.



Paid obituary

For the complete article see the 06-27-2009 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 06-27-2009 paper.