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Helen "Muree" Strubleof Kadoka, South Dakota, died on Sunday, May 12, 2019
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Helen Muree McRae was born June 22, 1928 in Lucas, South Dakota, to Edward and Nellie (Fish) McRae. She moved with her parents and four older sisters: Rachel, Darlene, Gladys, and Bonnie at age two to a farm nine miles north of Kadoka. Muree attended grade school at South Creek School and attended Kadoka High School while living and working at the Pearl Hotel.
It was there that she met her future husband and love of her life, Leslie Struble, Sr. The smitten cowboy rode his horse from the home place on Bear Creek to ask her out. Les and Muree married in 1946 living both in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Killeen, Texas, while Les was serving in the U.S. Army. To this union six children were born: Cindy, Mayola, Tom, Mike, Butch, and Tony.
Muree held various jobs in and around Kadoka. One memory the family has of her baking talents was all the large pie filling cans overtaking the kitchen while she baked pies daily for Jeff’s Truck Stop. Muree also worked at H&H El Centro, Kadoka Hospital and Nursing Home Kitchen, and the Kadoka School Lunchroom. After retiring, she went back to work as a hostess for H&H Restaurant. Muree developed lifelong friendships at every job she held and could always be found included in the workplace prank as often being the instigator.
She was a member of Evangelical Lutheran Church, a life member of American Legion Auxiliary, Rebekah Lodge, ELCA, Rebekah Circle, and also enjoyed being a member of her local Senior Citizens group. Les and Muree experienced many adventures in their 73 years including camping throughout South Dakota with grandkids, traveling to Nashville, Tennessee, Texas, and white water rafting in Branson, Missouri, along with stopping at every antique shop Muree could find.
Muree baked and decorated cakes for weddings and birthdays. She spent her time enjoying her flower and vegetable garden. Crocheting, crafting, and embroidery were also things that she loved and was always looking for the next fun project. She loved holidays and had a great time celebrating Halloween. She is most known for haunting her house, dressing up in various costumes (who knew spaghetti and meatballs was a costume choice!), and always giving out extra candy. She was an avid collector of Carnival glass, thimbles from every state, bright butterflies, cat plates, refrigerator magnets, jewelry galore, and an impressive hutch full of miniatures. Muree also loved socializing by attending grandchildren events and family gatherings.
Grateful for sharing her life are her husband of 73 years, Leslie Sr. of Kadoka; her children: Lucinda “Cindy” (Dale) O’Connell of Kadoka; Mayola (Jim) Horst of Kadoka; Thomas “Tom” (Rebecca) Struble of Philip; Milton “Mike” Struble of Kadoka; Leslie “Butch” Struble, Jr. of Lead; and Tony (Alison) Struble of Vine Grove, Kentucky; her grandchildren: Leslie (Polly) O’Connell; Blake (Stacy) Horst; Raymond (Karla) O’Connell; Wendy (Chad) Horst; Craig (Sona) O’Connell; Quentin Struble; Bruce O’Connell; Erin (Chaz) Wheeler; Alea “Charlie” Struble; Skyler Struble; Tanya Lafarier; Kristopher Struble; and Keegan Struble; her great-grandchildren: Aubrey (Jeffrey) Patterson; Alex O’Connell; Andrew O’Connell; Emily, Jaxson and Griffin Fode; Jordan O’Connell; Taylan, Kayla and Judian Schutz; Lanie O’Connell; Weston Struble; Hayden Struble and Harper Perhus; her great-great-grandchildren: Landon Raile and Alayna Patterson; one sister, Bonnie Enders of Kadoka; sisters-in-law, Sherri Struble and Carol Struble; and many nieces and nephews which she held dear.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Nellie McRae; in-laws, Harold and Marjorie Struble; sisters: Rachel (Milo) Brookens, Darlene (Richard) Schofield, and Gladys (Ralph) Wagner; infant brother George Edward McRae; brothers-in-law Earl Enders, Clayton Struble, and Dell Struble; sisters-in-law: Dorothy (Beauford) Briggs, Esther (Chris)Madsen, and Amy (Kenny) Dunsmore; nephews: Durward Madsen, Duane Wagner, Paul Briggs, Lee Williams, Robert Briggs Doug Enders, and McKenzie Stilwell; nieces, Betty Schofield, Carmen Madsen, Edie Bettelyoun, and Natasha Todd; and infant great-granddaughter Aerial O’Connell.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kadoka.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24, at the Kadoka City Auditorium with Pastor Duane Neugebauer officiating.
Interment will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
VISITATION
Thursday, May 23 - 5-7 p.m.
Concordia Lutheran Church
Kadoka, South Dakota
FUNERAL SERVICE
Friday, May 24, 2019 - 10:00 a.m.
City Auditorium
Kadoka, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Duane Neugebauer
MUSIC
JoAnn Stilwell - Pianist
Eve “Muree” Patterson - Vocalist
“Take My Hand Precious Lord”
“Amazing Grace”
Congregational Hymn
“How Great Thou Art”
USHERS
Weston Struble - Hayden Struble - Andrew O’Connell
PALLBEARERS
All of Muree’s Grandsons:
Leslie O’Connell - Blake Horst - Raymond O’Connell
Craig O’Connell - Bruce O’Connell - Quentin Struble
Skyler Struble - Kristopher Struble - Keegan Struble
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Friday, May 24, 2019 - 2:00 p.m.
Black Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis, South Dakota