Erna Rosina Pietz

CLERGY
Rev. Greg Way
MUSIC
Organist - Ruby Dewald
"In the Garden"
"Softly and Tenderly"
"God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again"
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
Members of the Tripp Good Samaritan Society Auxiliary
CASKETBEARERS
Tony Young
Brian Young
Doug Pietz
Britt Becker
Jordan Hargens
Tanner Pietz
Erna Rosina Pietz was born on Friday, November 16, 1917 on the family farm ten miles southeast of Parkston, South Dakota. She was one of four children and twin daughters raised in the loving care of strong German parents, Paul and Rosina (Schnabel) Reimann. Erna was baptized on November 29, 1917 and confirmed on May 15, 1930, both in the Kulm Country Church in the German language by Rev. Paul Briest. She attended Rural School District #35 in Hutchinson County through the 8th grade, and then began working with her parents on the farm. She also worked as a hired girl wherever she was needed for $2.00 per week. Erna was united in marriage to Leo Pietz on September 23, 1937 at the parsonage in Kaylor, also by Rev. Briest. They farmed on the Pietz family farm three and a half miles northeast of Tripp for 57 years. Erna was a devoted farmwife, mother and homemaker. She helped with the farm work in addition to keeping a large garden and raising several kinds of poultry. After retiring, Leo and Erna moved into Tripp in 1994 and Leo passed away on September 23, 2001, their 64th wedding anniversary. Her hobbies included cooking and baking, crocheting, embroidery, and growing flowers. Erna was a member of Frieden’s Church and a longtime member of the Tripp Good Samaritan Society Auxiliary. She remained in her home until 2006, when she moved to Yankton. In 2010, she became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society of Tripp. It is there that Erna passed away on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at the age of 94 years and 11 months.
Erna is survived by four children: Kay Eng of Mesa, Arizona, Janice (Kenneth) Young of Yankton, Robert Pietz of Mitchell, and Sheree (Kenneth) Becker of Hartington, Nebraska; six grandchildren: Kim, Doug, Tony, Brian, Jenny and Jayson; two step-grandchildren: Maria and Britt; and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her special canine friend, Lexie, whose weekly visits to the Good Samaritan Society brightened not only Erna's day, but the other resident's as well.
In addition to her parents, Paul and Rosina Reimann, Erna was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; a brother, Roland Reimann; two sisters: Vesta Bietz (Erna’s twin) and Glendora Bartel; and a granddaughter, Jodie.