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Beatrice I. Struss Dec 28 1918 - Mar 07 2010
Funeral services for Beatrice I. Struss, age 91, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mazeppa Township. Rev. Jason Schulz will officiate. Music will be provided by Darlis Heuer as organist with congregational singing. Beatrice passed away on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at a care center in Watertown. She was the widow of Alvin Struss. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the staff at Golden LivingCenter. Active pallbearers will be: Wallace Redlin, Chad Struss, Scott Struss, Robert Kohlhoff, Butch Margeson, Lyle Margeson, and Danny Schmeling. Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Beatrice was born on December 28, 1918, at Junius, SD, to Winnie and Lena (Welch) Margeson. Following graduation from high school, Beatrice worked at a country store for four years. On February 21, 1941, Beatrice married Alvin Struss at Rock Rapids, IA. The couple moved to South Shore, SD, and in 1949 they moved to their home near Summit where they owned and operated Al’s Service. The store was located on the property where the current Redlin Lodge is today. They operated the store together for 22 years. After Al passed away in 1970, Beatrice continued to operate the store for eight more years until 1978. Beatrice moved back to South Shore and in 1984, she moved into Watertown. She was a life member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where she belonged to the Ladies’ Aid. Beatrice wrote news articles for the South Shore Gazette and the Milbank Herold for over 15 years. She loved spending time with her family, playing cards, and solving crossword puzzles. Beatrice is survived by five children: Rick (Bonnie) Struss, Roxanne (Larry) Kohlhoff, and Gail (Judy) Struss all of Watertown, SD, Rita (Phabe) Wartman of Excelsior, MN, and Larry Struss of Marshall, MN; 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and one sister, Phyllis Schmeling, of Watertown, SD. She was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter, Wanda Jean; her parents; two brothers; and one sister.

Beatrice I. Struss
Dec 28 1918 - Mar 07 2010

Funeral services for Beatrice I. Struss, age 91, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mazeppa Township. Rev. Jason Schulz will officiate. Music will be provided by Darlis Heuer as organist with congregational singing. Beatrice passed away on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at a care center in Watertown. She was the widow of Alvin Struss.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the staff at Golden LivingCenter. Active pallbearers will be: Wallace Redlin, Chad Struss, Scott Struss, Robert Kohlhoff, Butch Margeson, Lyle Margeson, and Danny Schmeling.

Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

Beatrice was born on December 28, 1918, at Junius, SD, to Winnie and Lena (Welch) Margeson. Following graduation from high school, Beatrice worked at a country store for four years.

On February 21, 1941, Beatrice married Alvin Struss at Rock Rapids, IA. The couple moved to South Shore, SD, and in 1949 they moved to their home near Summit where they owned and operated Al’s Service. The store was located on the property where the current Redlin Lodge is today. They operated the store together for 22 years. After Al passed away in 1970, Beatrice continued to operate the store for eight more years until 1978. Beatrice moved back to South Shore and in 1984, she moved into Watertown.

She was a life member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where she belonged to the Ladies’ Aid. Beatrice wrote news articles for the South Shore Gazette and the Milbank Herold for over 15 years. She loved spending time with her family, playing cards, and solving crossword puzzles.

Beatrice is survived by five children: Rick (Bonnie) Struss, Roxanne (Larry) Kohlhoff, and Gail (Judy) Struss all of Watertown, SD, Rita (Phabe) Wartman of Excelsior, MN, and Larry Struss of Marshall, MN; 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and one sister, Phyllis Schmeling, of Watertown, SD.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter, Wanda Jean; her parents; two brothers; and one sister.

Guest book

Comment posted by: Chuck Connie Elmer
Sun 14th Mar 2010 06:38 pm

We were so sorry to hear about aunt bea. We are so glad that we got to visit with her last summer. She always had a great story about growing up with our mother.we always looked forward to visiting , she had the best sense of humor , and was a beautiful lady.
She was so blessed to have such a wonderful family, always there for her. You are in our prayers.

Comment posted by: Susan Buhler
Fri 12th Mar 2010 10:50 am

Bea was just the most polite, sweetest, thoughtful and considerate lady I've had the pleasure to know. Your family was blessed because of her, and I was honored to know her! She will be missed by So many. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Comment posted by: Marlys Richter Jensen
Thu 11th Mar 2010 11:20 am

Rita, Gail,Roxy, Rick and Larry...Sorry that I couldn't be at the funeral this morning, but the snow flakes are coming down quite heavy now. I'm sending you all our sympathy and keeping Bea in my memory bank. We had such fun back in the good ol days. She was a sweet person and always so caring.

Comment posted by: Jim and Valerie Amdahl
Wed 10th Mar 2010 10:32 am

We only lived four miles from the store. Always went there for milk, bread and a few staples. Bea was always so gracious to everyone. So sorry to hear of her passsing. You have our sincere sympathy.

Comment posted by: Pam Borns
Wed 10th Mar 2010 07:52 am

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. Keep the good memories alive. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Take care.

Comment posted by: Carol and George Braunwarth
Tue 09th Mar 2010 10:04 pm

Our deepest sympathy to all of you - Rita, Gail, Roxy, Rick and Larry and families. We send our hugs and prayers and are so sorry we won't be able to attend the funeral. Your mother was such a beautiful lady and was loved by all. She will be so missed but you were so lucky to have had such a wonderful mother.

Comment posted by: Sarah Whitney
Tue 09th Mar 2010 12:42 pm

It was such a pleasure to get to know Bea while she was at Golden Living. She was one of my favorite people there and I really enjoyed knowing her. She was such a kind and loving person and we had so much fun visiting,talking about our families and joking around. She always had a smile for me and always brightened my day. I will miss her so much. She truley left "footprints in my heart."

Comment posted by: Roger and Lori
Tue 09th Mar 2010 11:38 am

We are so sorry to hear of your lost! Bea was a wonderful lady and was loved very much. She was a very lucky lady to have so much family around that truely loved and cared for her, and spent time with her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and your family.

Comment posted by: Jill Moraine
Tue 09th Mar 2010 09:36 am

I was so sad to hear of Aunt Bea's passing. I have many wonderful memories of times spent with her and my Gram. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Jill, Wes and Rylee Moraine

Comment posted by: Sharon Kirsch
Tue 09th Mar 2010 09:36 am

Rita, Gail, Roxy, Rick and Larry - My heart goes out to all of you, as you had a very strong, courageous Mom that made a difference in the world. She was ahead of her time, running a business, raising a family and being a friend to everyone. Do not dwell on what you have lost but instead--in what you were given. She was a beautiful lady and you can all stand tall because of her. God Bless.

Comment posted by: Terry Strang
Mon 08th Mar 2010 08:26 pm

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, Aunt Bea is a great woman, She will be missed. but not forgotten.
Terry, Vicki, Kayla, Kylie Strang
Chamberlain, SD

Comment posted by: Maxine Grant Nyland
Mon 08th Mar 2010 07:45 pm

We are so sorry to hear about Aunt Bea...she was such a nice lady and I know she was loved by everyone that she met....I know we didn't have family get together's as much as we should have...but i have lots of memories when you guy's had the store...Just know you are all in our prayer's and we love you all....Aunt Bea...you will be missed..

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