Velma Agnes Ehli

RAPID CITY - Velma Agnes Ehli, 83, Rapid City died Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Agnes was born March 1, 1928, in Ogallala, Neb., to Ralph and Velma (Southard) Smith. She grew up in Ogallala then moved to Lead. Agnes graduated from Rapid City High School in 1944. After high school, she attended Western Union Telegraphy School in Minneapolis for two years and became a telegraph operator.

Agnes married Wendline J. Ehli on Oct. 21, 1946, at the Episcopal Church in Lead. They returned to Rapid City where she worked for Western Union. They started a family, and when the children were older, Agnes was employed at Nash Finch where she worked in advertising and clerical work. She retired after 20 years in 1975. 

For many years, Agnes was active with Emmanuel Episcopal Women's Group at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Rapid City. She enjoyed traveling, and she spent many winters in Texas, camping, and visiting with family. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and planning large family gatherings for the holidays.

Survivors include her husband, Wendline Ehli, and a daughter, Linda  (James) Hayward, all of Rapid City; a son, William (Kathleen) Ehli, Danbury, Conn.; three foster children, Chuck (Starla) Bilek, Clinton, Iowa, and Marilyn (Myles) Stomberg and Cindy (Don) Pleau, all of Hugo, Minn.; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Elmer (Claudia) Smith, Rapid City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Lee in 1968; a brother, Ralph Dale Smith; a sister, Roebetta Roth; and great-granddaughter, Mackenzie Mackie.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 20, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Emmanuel Episcopal Church-ECW.

An online guestbook is available at www.osheimschmidt.com.