Mavis Rederth

Mavis Rederth, 89, passed away at Avera McKennan on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.

Mavis was born on February 21, 1932, to Helen and Paul Ackerman where she grew up on a farm outside of Waubay, SD. She shared fond memories of life on the farm, catching frogs by Owens Creek, playing games of hide and seek, and riding her horse King to school.

The family moved to town when Mavis was 11. Mavis had a lot of responsibility growing up as her mother suffered from diabetes and was confined to a wheelchair. Her father had moved away to Minneapolis. She got her first job setting pins at the bowling alley in Waubay. She was happy to be able to save up enough money to buy the family a washing machine. Growing up during the depression, Mavis always stressed the importance of saving for that “rainy day” and when the 401K program was offered at work, she was the first to enroll.

After graduating Waubay high school in 1950 her and her best friend Jewel decided to head to the big city of Sioux Falls where job opportunities were more available. It was there that she met her husband Kermit who was a veteran of WWII. Mavis and Kermit had 5 children.

Mavis and Kerm shared a love of music and the outdoors. Kerm was an avid guitar player who played songs every night after supper while Mavis would sing along. They did a lot of camping at Lake Poinsette and made several trips out west to visit relatives while staying in national and state parks along the way.

A fierce card player, Mavis taught all her kids to play cards as that was one of her favorite family pastimes. She read the Argus from front to back and would often share advice from Ann Landers or Readers Digest. She had plenty of advice of her own and always wove in old adages like “If you can't say something nice don’t say anything at all.”

Mavis had a passion for politics and always believed in sticking up for those less fortunate. She worked as a volunteer for the George McGovern campaign back in 1972 and continued to encourage all who would listen the importance of casting your vote.

In 1986 her husband Kermit passed away at the age of 68. Mavis picked up the pieces and continued to work at her job with the Nash Finch Company until she retired in 1994. After retirement Mavis joined a card club where she played pinochle and pitch. She loved going to the casino with her best friend Jewel where they would play blackjack and 3 card poker. She always said if you have one good friend in your life consider yourself lucky. Jewel Wattier was that person. Their lifelong friendship lasted 80 years.

Mavis suffered from a stroke 6 years ago and was subsequently diagnosed with dementia. Just one week ago she broke her hip and underwent hip pinning surgery. Pneumonia quickly set in after her surgery which then led to her death at the age of 89 just shy of her 90th birthday.

To say that Mavis was a great wife and mother would be an understatement. Her commitment to family was unending. She will be sorely missed by her surviving children: Ted, Scott, Karmen, Judy. And Gena Stansbury who Mavis always thought of as daughter. Her grandchildren: Anthony, Jordan and Megan. Her great grandchildren: Julian, Raylan, Scarlett and Violet.

Mavis was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Paul Ackerman, her husband Kermit, her son Brady(Tiny), older brothers, Ike, Bud, and Red, her older sister Ella Johnson and her younger brother Harold (Auggie) who passed away just 4 days before she did.

A celebration of Mavis’ life will be held at Heritage Funeral Home (4800 S. Minnesota Ave. Sioux Falls SD 57108) on Saturday, January 15th, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. with a lunch to follow.

Virtual participation can be found by clicking on the Zoom link:

Heritage Funeral Home is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Mavis Rederth Memorial ServiceTime: Jan 15, 2022 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/81477572201?pwd=UDZqYTVHTGZWbUVSTkZtMG5KN1NxUT09

Meeting ID: 814 7757 2201Passcode: 399305