Obituary: Mary E. Eide

Funeral Services

Funeral services will take place on Friday, September 6, 2019 at 10:00 AM (Mountain).

American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota

Visitation

A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, with a prayer service starting at 6:30 p.m. at Rush Funeral Home in Philip.

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In memory of

Mary E. Eide

of Philip, South Dakota, died on Saturday, August 31, 2019 at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip at the age of 85

Mary Edith (Smith) Eide was born on September 22, 1933 in Philip, South Dakota to John Roy and Norma Alice (Hicks) Smith. Mary lived with her parents on her dad’s homestead at Grindstone until the age of three. In 1936 the family moved 12 miles west of Custer on Bull Flats. She attended Bull Flats grade school, receiving her 8th grad diploma. Mary then attended high school in Custer, South Dakota and Sundance, Wyoming.

Mary was united in marriage to Kenneth Eide on November 3, 1951 at the First Lutheran Church in Philip. To this union one son, Marvin Duane Eide, was born on July 2, 1954.

Mary helped her husband with the farming and ranching until the fall of 1973 when she began working at the Philip Nursing Home. She started in the kitchen and laundry, then in 1974 as activity director and social services, and later becoming the full time social services designee. She held that position until she retired in 2007. Also during this time she was an EMT and after her retirement she wrote the Grindstone News for several years.

Some things she enjoyed when younger were riding and breaking horses, driving a team, sledding and skiing in the Black Hills, learning how to cook and clean house. After Mary was married she became very involved in her church and the Ladies Aid, the Grindstone Women’s Club, teaching Sunday school and release time for 40 years, and working with the Prairie Seed camping program at Philip, Faith and Interior.

Mary and Kenneth both enjoyed music and dancing. They took many a road trip to Whitewood, South Dakota for dances and they also followed Marvin and his band to many of their performances.

Mary always had an interest in doing special events to help people. She was the driving force behind many Hee-Haw and Buttons and Bows shows. Mary felt Philip needed a mini-bus service so the elderly, nursing home residents and handicapped could have transportation. This became a reality when the first mini-bus arrived in 1986.

Mary was better known to everyone as “Mary Jane”, a nickname her dad gave her when she was very young. Her home was always open to anyone that stopped by for a visit and a home cooked meal even on short notice. She lived on the family farm until moving into the Philip Nursing Home in 2015.

Grateful for having shared her life include her son Marvin Eide and his wife Vicki of Philip; two granddaughters, Carla Eide (Michael) of Gillette, Wyoming, and Christa Fitch and her husband Trevor of Milesville; eight great-grandchildren, Kiley and Taegan Sieler, and Brayden (Taylor), Keagan, Colby, Jensen, Rayler, and Aven Fitch; one great-great-granddaughter, Raelyn Fitch; brother, Richard Smith; sister-in-laws, Irene and Joy Smith; and a host of other relatives and friends, including Jim Nickelson, who lived with them for several years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Eide on May 7, 2006; her parents; her brothers, Everett, Alfred, John, Wesley, Kenneth, and Maxwell Smith; and her sister Betty Jo Montgomery.

A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, with a prayer service starting at 6:30 p.m. at Rush Funeral Home in Philip.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 6, at the American Legion Hall in Philip.

Interment will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.

Memorials have been established to Haakon Country Prairie Transport and the Philip Nursing Home Expansion Project.

Cards can be sent to:
22475 Deadman Creek Road
Philip, SD 57567

VISITATION
Thursday, September 5, 2019 - 5-7 p.m.
Rush Funeral Home
Philip, South Dakota

PRAYER SERVICE
Thursday, September 5, 2019 - 6:30 p.m.
Rush Funeral Home
Philip, South Dakota

FUNERAL SERVICES
Friday, September 6, 2019 - 10:00 a.m.
American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota
OFFICIANT
Pastor Kathy Chesney
EULIGIST
Deacon Lloyd Frein
MUSIC
Marilyn Millage - Pianist
Deb Smith - Vocalist
“Green Green Grass of Home”
“How Great Thou Art”
“Detroit City”
USHERS
Mike Seager - Jim Nickelson
PALLBEARERS
Mary’s Great-Grandchildren
Brayden Fitch - Keagan Fitch—Kiley Sieler
Colby Fitch - Taegan Sieler—Jensen Fitch
Rayler Fitch - Aven Fitch
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Mary’s Godchildren
Bill Knutson - Connie (Oldenberg) Partida
Janelle (Newman) Brown - Kieth Smith
INTERMENT
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota

Sign the guestbook

It's hard to find words to say how we feel about Mary. She taught us both so, so much and loved us unconditionally (as well as saved Mike's butt a time or two). We will miss her but rejoice that she has been called home to be with Jesus. Thinking of you all. ~ Lori Seager Philip (9/6/2019)
Remember the good times and always keep them in your heart. ~ Jim and Vonnie O’Dea Howes, SD (9/5/2019)
Thinking of you folks during this difficult time, hold on to all the memories. Mary was quite a lady. ~ Les & Joann Pearson Philip, SD (9/4/2019)
Marvin, Vicky & family--sorry to hear of the Mary's passing. She was such a wonderful blessing to everyone she knew. I had the honor of performing Ken's funeral and enjoyed visiting with them both during his illness. ~ Mark Ford Brainerd, MN (9/4/2019)
What a wonderful friend and mentor Mary was to me and many. Always positive, always interested, always thinking of ways to make folks lives better. She will be missed but she has earned her rest. Love to all her family. ~ Kenny & Lyndy Ireland Philip, SD (9/4/2019)
Mary was a joy to know and a pleasure to work with. I can't imagine the hole this special lady leaves in your lives. May you be truly comforted and wrapped up very tightly in our Heavenly Father's arms.
~ Rebecca Williams Hill City, SD (9/3/2019)
Mary was a special lady, helped the local community and people over the years. ~ Marcia (Wintrode) Biller Minong, Wisconsin (9/3/2019)
Our deepest sympathy to all of Mary's family. May she rest in peace with her loved ones who had gone on before her. May God hold you close in the days ahead. ~ Larry and Julie McLaughlin Midland, SD (9/3/2019)
Mary was such a nice lady. She helped me so much when my mother entered the Philip Nursing Home. In fact, she sat with my mother the evening she passed away. So sorry for your loss. ~ Ron & Marilyn Gartner Interior SD (9/3/2019)
So sorry for your loss I enjoyed working with her at the Philip nursing home she a great lady. ~ Judy Bosanco Drsper S.D (9/2/2019)
Marvin, Vicki & family,
I was so sorry to hear about Mary. She was a special lady who I admired and enjoyed not only working with but caring for later on. May you find comfort in the days to come. God bless and prayers to you all. ~ J’Nai Hauk Quinn, SD (9/2/2019)
Marvin, Vickie & Family, So sorry to hear of your Mother's passing. I enjoyed the years of working with her at the nursing home. She taught me a lot and we had many good times. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all. God Bless. ~ Ralph & Cathy Fiedler Sturgis, S.D. (9/2/2019)