Mary E. Eide

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 grade 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 was 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 were held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 6, at the American Legion Hall in Philip.
Interment followed 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
Arrangements were with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

The Pioneer Review

221 E. Oak Street
Philip, SD 57567
Telephone: (605) 859-2516
E Mail: ads@pioneer-review.com

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