Emma Elsie Maass

Emma Elsie Maass August 1, 1915 - November 28, 2014 Emma Elsie Maass Hartford, South Dakota Died: Friday, November 28, 2014 Age: 99 years, 3 months, 27 days Funeral Service St. Paul Lutheran Church, Humboldt, South Dakota Reverend Denise Broveak, Officiating Sandy Holdahl, Organist Brenda Maass, Vocalist "How Great Thou Art" Congregational Hymns "Nearer My God To Thee" "Just As I Am" "Take My Hand Precious Lord" Interment St Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Humboldt, South Dakota Pallbearers Kevin Halverson Kim Halverson Nathan Maass James Maass David Daugaard Don Daugaard Emma Maass, lifetime resident of the Humboldt and Hartford area, died November 28, 2014, in Sioux Falls, with her family by her side. She was 99. Emma Elsie (Harms) Maass was born August 1, 1915, in Humboldt, SD, to Frank and Anna (Schap) Harms. As a young girl, Emma assisted her parents in raising a large number of chickens. She attended school in Humboldt. On August 7, 1933, Emma was united in marriage to Henry Maass in Humboldt. The couple made their home five miles south of Humboldt, where Emma became a homemaker and loving mother. After living in Lennox and Hartford for a short period of time, they returned to Humboldt in 1941. In addition to raising cattle and assisting Henry on the farm, Emma began selling Stanley products in the mid-1960s. This was a project that eventually involved the children as well. Successful and energetic, Emma had won numerous regional and national sales awards in her 49 years selling Stanley products. Emma was a 70-year member of the Humboldt American Legion Auxiliary. After losing two brothers in WWII, she devoted decades of service organizing and participating in Auxiliary projects. In addition to raising cattle, Emma enjoyed going fishing and attending baseball games. She adored her children and grandchildren, and loved spending weekends celebrating birthdays and special events. Much of her life was devoted to her church as well. A lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Humboldt, Emma enjoyed her involvement with church circle and other church groups and events. Emma loved everyone of all ages, and everyone loved her. Continuing to raise cattle even after Henry's death on November 25, 1989, she stayed on the farm until age 97. Emma loved her friends at the Sanford Wellness Center, where she swam two to three times a week. Blessed with a strong South Dakota work ethic, her spirit was tempered with the compassion and warm devotion she held for her family and her community. Grateful for having shared her life are her daughters, Dorothy Daugaard, Garretson, SD Caroline (Keith) Halverson, Sioux Falls, SD; sons, Donald Maass, Hartford, SD; Wayne (Ronda) Maass, Goddard, KS, Lynn (Brenda) Maass, Corona, SD; 25 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; 12 step-great-grandchildren; and 7 step-great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Diana; two infant daughters, Betty Jean and Linda Henrietta; brothers, Emil, Frank, Elmer, Charles; sisters, Mary Otten, Laverne Harms; grandchildren, Kris Halverson, David Robinson, Dan Daugaard, Daniel Robinson, Dale Daugaard, Justin Maass, Hannah Maass; and a son-in-law, Dwight Daugaard. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30am, Wednesday, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Humboldt, SD, with interment immediately following. Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 to 7:00pm Tuesday with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 Tuesday evening at Miller Funeral Home - Hartford Chapel, at 600 S. Western Avenue, Hartford, SD.