Armista Wheelhouse

Armista Wheelhouse, 93, of Miller, died Tuesday June 23 at the Good Samaritan Center of Miller.  Visitation will be at Rembold Funeral Home Sunday, June 28 from 4-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service.  Funeral service will be Monday, June 29 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Miller with Rev. Mary Ann Sheldon officiating.  Burial will be at G.A.R. Cemetery.  Rembold Funeral Home of St. Lawrence has been entrusted with Armista’s arrangements.

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, SD 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 s 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 Mobile Milling for several years.  She worked as a waitress at Namanny’s and Lip’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 many 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 enjoyed to quilt, 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, SD, Roger (Merrylee) Wheelhouse of Mount Vernon, Washington, Richard (Joyce) Wheelhouse of West Sacramento , California;  Her sisters, Agnes Mc Kenzie of Marion SD, Lois (Melvin) Rodney of Miller SD,       Geraldine (Ernie) Green of Spirit Lake, Idaho, Lillie Mae  (Verlin) Brenner of Junction City,  Kansas, Betty Raubuck of Winlock, Washington.  9 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.   17 great grand children, 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 Wheelhouse,  Joanna  (Jason ) Baker and Lizzi Marr.  8 great-great grandchildren, Calvin, Silas and Malcolm Barker, Cheyenne, Megan, Devon, Cara and Addison Bailey; sisters-in-law Ellen Wheelhouse of Highmore and Mary Bradke of Portland, Oregon.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years on December 28, 2000.   Her parents; 3 brothers, Frank, Lawrence and Russell, granddaughter Kay Ann,  grandson James, and son- in- law Donald Masker.

 

 
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