Ethel B. Diercks

Ethel B. Diercks, age 96, of Plankinton, South Dakota, formerly of Alta, Iowa, died February 1, 2026 at Aurora-Brule Nursing Home in White Lake, South Dakota.

Graveside services will take place Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery in Alta. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in ALTA is in charge of the arrangements.

Ethel Diercks was born September 28, 1929, at the Gustafson Homestead near Laurens, IA. She was the fifth child born to Justus and Ida "Anderson" Gustafson in the Albert City area. She was confirmed in the Covenant Mission Church and graduated from Albert City High School in 1947.

Ethel married Richard G. Anderson on September 18, 1948, in Nebraska City, Nebraska. To this union, their daughter, Janet, was born. On August 1, 1987, she married John P. Diercks at her acreage northeast of Alta, Iowa. Ethel and John had a wonderful partnership for 10 years and 10 days before he passed away on August 10, 1997. They loved buying and selling antiques together.

Ethel enjoyed accounting and held positions at Albert City Savings Bank, John Deere Implement of Laurens, Hygrade Food Products, McDonald's, and Pro Pork Associates of Cherokee. She worked for 21 years at Hygrade Food Products before it closed in 1983. While there, she was promoted to Traffic Manager, making her the first woman to hold that position at a major meatpacking company in the United States.

Ethel loved horses all her life. She raised and showed top Quarter Horses and Miniature Horses in Iowa. She was a Lifetime Member in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA), and the Iowa Miniature Horse Club. She also served 7 years as a National Director of the AMHA.

In her later years, Ethel enjoyed sewing baby items and fleece quilts, which she sold alongside her daughter at regional craft shows. Ethel enjoyed watching " The Christian Worship Hour" with Pastor Harold Salem.

Ethel is survived by her daughter; Janet M. Holmes of Plankinton, SD; step-children, Claire (Robert) Baker of Whitestown, IN, John (Joan) Diercks of Indianapolis, IN, Dan (Becky) Diercks of Hagerstown, IN, Mary Jo Dare of Indianapolis, IN, and Linda Diercks of Cherokee, IA; step son in-law, Vick Anderson of Ankeny, IA; sister-in-law, Ardis Gustafson of Apache Junction, AZ; grandchildren, Donald (Karen) Holmes III of Wolsey, SD, Dan (Delesa) Bosworth of White Lake, SD, Debbi (Wayne) Stockstill of Virgil, SD, and Eric (Devena) Jackson of Woonsocket, SD; along with 7 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Justus and Ida (Anderson) Gustafson; husbands, Richard Anderson and John Diercks; brothers, Earl (Doris) Gustafson, Lowell, and DeWayne Gustafson; sister, Leona Gibbons; brother-in-law, Don Gibbins; stepson, Mike Diercks; stepdaughter, Katie Anderson; and great-granddaughter, Danielle Holmes.