Erma Wilske

Erma Lenora Wilske, 95, peacefully passed away on Friday, November 5, 2010 at Kavanagh House on 56th Street in Des Moines. She was born July 27, 1915, to George and Katy Schultz in Draper, South Dakota, where she attended school. After graduation she worked as a government secretary in Murdo, S.D. and later was transferred to the district office in Rapid City as a payroll clerk and secretary.
On November 23, 1935, she was married to Lauren Ferris in Sioux Falls, S.D. They moved to Custer, S.D. in 1942, where they raised their family and established their family home and business, Pine Lodge. She also worked as a cashier clerk and telephone operator. In 1962, she was appointed Deputy County Treasurer and in 1963, she ran for office and was elected Custer County Treasurer; she kept that position until 1976 when she resigned due to the death of her daughter, Glennys. At that time, she moved to Edmonds, WA, to help care for and raise her three grandchildren, Brynn, Jeff, and Jon Schaub, a promise she made to her daughter before she died.
In 1977 she moved to Omaha, NE, to be near her daughters and their families. While there she worked as a receptionist and secretary for Southside Assembly of God Church. In 1980, she moved to Des Moines, again to be near her family. On April 6, 1985, she married Kurt Wilske. The spent winters in Des Moines and summers in Custer.
She is survived by her three children, Bev Channell of Clive, Alan (Karen) Ferris of Hampton, Linda (Rod) Johnson of Des Moines; stepson, Jerry Wilske of Iowa City and Larry (Sue) Wilske of Flandreau, S.D.; 14 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husbands, daughter Glennys, grandson Matthew, parents, two brothers, and sister.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 9 at First Church of the Open Bible (2200 Beaver Ave., Des Moines). Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday evening at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to First Church of the Open Bible.