Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 26, 2009 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Paul Smith officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery in Seneca. Visitation was held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, October 25, 2009 at the Luce Funeral Home in Faulkton with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the church.
Grace was born August 9, 1912 to W.H. and Elizabeth (Wignall) Cooper in a small town near Hynes, Iowa. When she was seven, the family moved to the Norbeck area near Faulkton. Grace received her education and graduated from Faulkton High School in 1930. Grace attended Aberdeen Northern College for teaching and taught for twenty five years; retiring in 1975. She married Edwin Bellack on June 11, 1936 in Aberdeen. To this union, four daughters were born: Birdine, Beth, Berniece, and Barbara. They made their home on a farm two and half miles northwest of Seneca for the next 66 years.
After Grace and Edwin retired from farming and ranching in the 1970’s, they traveled to 48 states and Europe. They enjoyed the sights and friends they made along the way. In 2002, Grace and Edwin moved into Faulkton and in 2005 they moved into the Faulkton Healthcare Center. Edwin and Grace were married 72 years before Edwin passed away in 2008.
Grace was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church where she held several offices and was a member of the Rebekah Lodge. She loved to read, cook, entertain, garden and raise chickens. When a celebration or anniversary was approaching, Grace was always asked to write a poem. In high school she won a 4-H trip to Chicago which later influenced her to become a 4-H leader.
Grace was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and a special friend to her neighbors in the Seneca area.
Her memory will be cherished by her four daughters: Birdine (Dave) Battcher of Gaylord, MN, Beth Witte of Seneca, SD, Berniece (Werner) Mohr of Hosmer, SD, and Barbara (Joe) Nemick of Lander, WY; nine grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and two great-great granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edwin; two brothers: Max and Jack Cooper; one sister: Joanne Cooper Fahrni; four sister-in-laws and four brother-in-laws: Beverly Cooper, Fayme Cooper, Lyle Schuelke, Mable and Henry Hagenlock, Ottis Winters, and Marjorie and Vernon Bellack; one son-in-law, Bob Witte and one granddaughter, Deann Witte.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Grace's arrangements.
MINISTER
Pastor Paul Smith
CASKETBEARERS
Blake Battcher
Paul Witte
Michael Mohr
Jon Klose
Donovan Heier
Scott Toins
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
The Staff at the Faulkton Healthcare Center
USHERS
Bob Cooper
Gene Herman
ORGANIST
Colleen Simon
VOCALIST
Colleen Simon
"On Eagle's Wings"
"When I Get Where I'm Going"
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
"Amazing Grace"
INTERMENT
Oakland Cemetery
Seneca, South Dakota
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