Surnames: Witthoeft, Rawstern, Otto, Phillips, Wipf, Grottke, Horn, Norton, Free

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co. WI) March 5, 2008

Witthoeft, Melva Marcedes (14 April 1918 - 4 Feb. 2008)

Melva M. Witthoeft

CHILI -- Melva M. Witthoeft passed into her Savior's waiting arms Feb. 4, 2008, at her daughter's home in Chili at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 21 days. She will be deeply missed by her family and loved ones.

Melva Marcedes (Rawstern) Witthoeft was born to Joe and Ruby (Otto) Rawstern on April 14, 1918, at home in Bonilla, S.D. She received her education at Borah country school and Bonilla High School. She married Arthur J. Witthoeft on Dec. 25, 1935, at the parsonage of St. John's Lutheran Church, Wolsey, S.D. They farmed with his parents near Wolsey until 1937, when they moved to a small farm on the "Correction Line" near Bonilla. In 1941, they moved back to the Witthoeft home place, farming there until 1961 when health concerns prompted them to move to Hot Springs, S.D.

Melva worked two years at the Redfield Nursing Home as a nurse's aide. In Hot Springs, she worked two years at Byrl Miller's Nursing Home. After healing from a critical car accident in 1963, she worked 18 years as a nurse's aide at Southern Hills General Hospital before retirement in 1983. Her husband passed away in 1987 but she continued living in their Hot Springs home until July 2004, when she moved to her daughter's home near Chili.

She is survived by two sisters, Delpha Phillips and Luella Wipf both of Rapid City, S.D.; two adopted daughters, Lillian Horn of Vermillion, S.D., and Margaret (Henry) Grottke of Chili; nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters; and her husband, Arthur.

Memorial services will be held Feb. 8, 2008, at Trinity Lutheran Church (WELS), rural Marshfield. Visitation is 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and service at 11 a.m., with lunch to follow.

Pallbearers are four grandsons, Christian and Stephen Grottke and James and Arthur Horn, and two nephews, Dennis and Duane Norton.

Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville is assisting the family with local arrangements.

McColley Funeral Home in Hot Springs, S.D., will have visitation 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, with graveside service to follow at 1 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, the Rev. Douglas Free Of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Rapid City officiating. A light lunch will follow at Grace Lutheran Church (WELS), Hot Springs.