Estelline, South Dakota

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Funeral Service 10:30 A.M., Monday, August 13, 2007 St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Dempster, South Dakota

Interment Dempster Cemetery, Dempster, South Dakota

Visitation 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Sunday at Geise Funeral Home in Estelline.

Cecile Opal (Strain) Saathoff, daughter of James and Arlene (Goodroad) Strain, was born June 14, 1912 at Oakwood Lake, South Dakota. She grew up and received her education in the Castlewood area and was united in marriage to Gede Saathoff on September 6, 1929 in Castlewood. To this union three children were born, Donna, Judy and Ron. They lived in Dempster where they spent most of their married life. In later years she worked as a nurse assistant for Rose Terry Nursing Home in Dempster and also Memorial Nursing Home in Watertown. Gede died on January 11, 1970 and upon retirement Cecile moved to Estelline. She entered the Estelline Nursing and Care Center on July 4, 2007 and died there on Thursday, August 9, 2007 at the age of 95 years, 1 month and 25 days.

She was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dempster where she was also active in the ladies aid. Cecile enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking goodies, playing cards and spending time with her family and friends.

Grateful for having shared her life are one daughter, Donna Lamberg; one son, Ron Saathoff and his wife Lana; one son-in-law, Kenneth Foster, all of Estelline; six grandchildren, Robert and Mary Jane Foster, Dale and Cindy Foster, Donna and Scott Thompson, Russell and Jen Dunn-Foster, Chad and Becky Saathoff, Tawnya and Shane Dahl; 12 great grandchildren, Joel, Adam, Dustin, Camille, Danielle, Chandelle, Josie, Morgan, Jordon, Braxton, Davon, Dalan; one great great grandchild, Keegan; one sister, Evelyn Street of Watertown, SD; a half sister, Irene Sharp of Rapid City, SD; a step sister, Leola Miller of Lake Norden, SD; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gede; one daughter, Judy Foster on July 21, 2006; her parents; and four sisters, Edna, Elgia, Viola and Reva.