Mildred Marie Niewenhuis

Mildred "Millie" Marie Niewenhuis, 92, went to her heavenly home Monday, December 22, 2025 at Aurora-Brule Nursing Home in White Lake. Funeral service will be Saturday, January 3 at 10:30 am, with visitation beginning at 9:30 am, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stickney. Memorials would be preferred in lieu of flowers.

Mildred "Millie" Marie Niewenhuis, the third of seven children, was born November 1, 1933 to Albert and Marion (Roberts) Artz on the family farm near Plankinton, SD. She attended Pleasant Lake Township School near the farm and then Stickney High School, graduating 1952. She was united in marriage to Alden Niewenhuis on September 3, 1954 in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Stickney, SD. To this union, five children were born. While Alden was serving his country in the United States Army, Millie worked at Farmers and Merchants State Bank in Plankinton. She was a busy and loving mom, helping with and attending the kids' school and church activities. She later worked as a cook at the Corsica Nursing Home and head cook at Stickney Public School for several years. Together with Alden, they spent many years milking cows, tending livestock and growing crops on the family farm southwest of Stickney.

Millie was a life-long member of St Paul Lutheran Church (as were her parents and grandparents), where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She was an active participant in women's church Circle, served on the church council, was a Sunday School and Bible School teacher, volunteered at church events and provided baked goods.

Millie was a talented seamstress, sewing much of the girls' clothing, countless cheerleading skirts, and bridesmaid dresses. She altered her own wedding dress each time one of her daughters was married…so special that she and her four daughters all wore the same dress on their wedding day! She was an avid sports fan, following Stickney School sports, as well as enjoying the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. She enjoyed cooking for, and forging relationships with, students and staff during her work years at the Stickney school. Those kids were always loved and well-fed with Millie in charge! She enjoyed hosting family and friends for coffee, serving up cookies or cinnamon rolls; welcoming all with a warm smile and talk of the current weather. She was a kid at heart, with her love for holiday jewelry and funny holiday decor. God, church and family were central to her life. Millie was a hard worker, a kind and giving person, and carried on with strength and dignity after Alden's early passing at the age of 56. Her family will carry with them, and pass onto others, the love and legacy that was her life.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Toni (Steve Moreillon) Stelle, Burlington, KY; Bev (Jerry) Lange, Sioux Falls, SD, son-in-law, Dave Jordheim (husband of Karla), Sioux Falls, SD; Merri (Mark) Anderson, Sioux Falls, SD; Curt (Cheryl) Niewenhuis, Stickney, SD; grandchildren: Matthew Stelle, Daniel Stelle, Nicole Smithback, Luke Lange, Ashley Skjoldal, Devan Jordheim, Casey Larson, Alex Anderson, Tony Niewenhuis and Jackie Hovland. She was blessed with twenty-two great grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and two more little ones who will soon join the family; and 3 surviving siblings: Kenneth (Sharon) Artz, Donna ( Larry) Vreugdenhil, and David Artz Sr.

She was preceded in death by: her husband, Alden; daughter, Karla Jordheim; son-in-law, George Stelle; great-grandson, Oliver Jasinski; 3 siblings: Edward Artz, Caroline Domke, and Barb Wieczorek; 2 sisters-in-law, Evelyn Artz and Wanda Meyer Artz; 2 brothers-in-law, Ben Domke and Robert Wieczorek; 2 dear friends and sisters-in-law, Lenora Gruenewald and Mary Lee Podhradsky; and many other beloved family and friends.