Elsie Henderson

Elsie Henderson, age 83, of Dupree, SD, passed away at Monument Health in Rapid City, SD, on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Funeral services for Elsie were held Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the United Church of Christ in Dupree, SD. 

Elsie May Fuhrer was born on 5/1/1940 at Dupree. She was the 2nd daughter of Bill & Christina (Springer) Fuhrer. She spent her first 12 years living on the Fuhrer farm northeast of Dupree while attending the Cloverleaf School. Elsie's family built a new house in Dupree in 1952 & they moved to town that fall.

Elsie worked at a local café during her high school days & graduated from Dupree in 1958. She met Gene Henderson at a dance in the summer of 1956. They soon became a couple and were married on June 16, 1958; settling on the Henderson farm with Gene's folks where she helped with the 21 milk cows they had at that time.

Due to drought, Gene & Elsie sold all of their cattle & moved into Dupree in 1961, where she babysat for some of the teachers. After the bills were paid & if there was any money left they would go to dances on Fri. & Sat. nights, something they dearly loved doing.

When the rains came they bought cattle back again & started farming on the place south of Dupree.

There were many arguments in the hay field when Elsie would make piles with the rake. She learned how to run most of the farm equipment & would help with the farm work.

Elsie worked at Oster's Grocery in the 1970's & then went to work at the Jack & Jill store from 1981 until 1998; then she started a baking business from her home. She made many kinds of delicious cookies; pies & kuchen. The grandkids always knew where to come for fresh cookies.  

After Gene passed away in Jan. 2015 she continued to live on the farm east of Dupree until June 2019 when she moved to Spearfish to Sandstone Assisted Living where she enjoyed the company of the other residents  & could play cards & socialize. In Aug. of 2023 she moved to Burrs Living Care where she made  more new friends. 

Elsie is survived by sons; Bill (Pam) Henderson & Dale (Tracie) Henderson; six grandchildren; Jeff, Blaine, Daryl (Hailee) & Robert Henderson; Mardie (Tyler) Sonne & Callie (Dave) Zeiler & six great grandchildren. Sister, Wilma Raile & sister-in-law Audrey Henderson & many nieces & nephews.

She was proceed in death by her parents; husband Gene & granddaughter Jodie Jean Henderson & brothers-in-law & sister-in-law Willie Raile, Harley & Terri Henderson & Ben Henderson. 

Condolences can be sent through  www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com