Obituary of Lea L. Guthmiller

Lea L. Guthmiller, age 107, of Yankton, SD passed away Monday, October 05, 2015 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, October 9, 2015 at First United Methodist Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories. Visitations will be 5 to 7 PM, Thursday, October 8, 2015 at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with the family present and then one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers will be: Terry, Larry & Gary Guthmiller, Dan & David Lowe and Doug Benninghoven. Lea was born August 22, 1908 to Gottlieb and Lydia (Maas) Wagner. She was baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical Church. Lea married Christian Guthmiller December 3, 1928 in Tyndall SD. After their marriage, she and Christ moved across the road from where she grew up, 20 miles north of Yankton. They lived there and farmed for 38 years before retiring and moving to Yankton in 1962. They lived in Yankton for 17 years and after Christ death, Lea continued to live in her home until a month before her 104th birthday, when she then moved to the nursing home. Lea worked at the downtown Yankton Coast to Coast store and Sunshine Foods. After retiring once again, she volunteered at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton for 22 years. Lea belonged to the First United Methodist Church in Yankton, VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary. All her life she was a homemaker. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, making Afghans, playing cards and putting puzzles together. Lea is survived by her son, Lloyd Guthmiller of Yankton, SD; daughter, Delores (Ray) Lowe of Golden, CO; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great grandchildren; brother, Lavern (Phoebe) Wagner of Menno, SD; sisters, Lillie Kirschenman of Yankton, SD and Belva Jean Walter of St. Lawrence, SD. Lea was preceded in death by her husband, Christ; infant daughter, Pearl; her parents, brothers: Emil, Robert and Elmer and her daughter-in-law, Karen. The family request that any memorials be directed to a charity of your choosing.