Ella Lenora Riswold

Ella L. Riswold, age 90, of Baltic, passed away on Friday, October 13, 2023, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Tuesday, October 24, 2023 , at East Nidaros Lutheran Church, rural Baltic. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7:30 PM Monday, October 23, 2023 , at the church. Memorials may be directed to the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, rural Armour, SD (resting place of Ella’s ancestors) or the Baltic Veteran’s Memorial.

Ella Lenora (Huber) Riswold was born on October 24, 1932, to John and Lydia (Kirchhevel) Huber – the sixth of seven children.  Ella grew up on the family farm in rural Armour where she helped with gathering eggs, milking cows, cooking and gardening.  Ella was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church which was just fourth of a mile from the farm.  At an early age, Ella went along with her siblings to Dewey School, essentially being the first “kindergarten” student at the school and attended Dewey School through the eighth grade.  Ella moved to Sioux Falls to live with her sister Elsie Wagner and attend Washington High School.  She graduated high school in 1950 and returned to Armour to work on the farm.  Ella returned to Sioux Falls and began working at Northwestern Bell.  She valued the “baby bells” stocks which she earned as part of employment.

Through mutual friends, Ella met Earl Riswold.  Earl and Ella were married on March 22, 1958, at Zion Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.  They settled on the Riswold homestead in rural Baltic.  In 1959, they were blessed with Lorna - the first of the four “Earl’s Girls”.  They added to their family with Veloy in 1961 and Rosalie in 1963.  Yvonne finally joined “Earl’s Girls” in 1970.  As the family grew, Ella was known for her hospitality – bringing lunch to Earl and the farm help and hosting birthday parties, holiday gatherings, chislic/mountain oyster feeds and card parties.  No one ever left hungry.  When the girls were all in school, Ella worked at the Holiday Inn until she was employed by M & L Grocery in Baltic.  She had the honor of being the Employee of the Year at M & L from 1980-1993.  During this time, Ella also worked for the Minnehaha Funeral Home as its answering service.  Ella went on to share her skillset at Raven Industries in the sewing and assembly line.  During her time at Ravens, she was chosen as Employee of the Month and had the honor of being the oldest assembly line worker until her retirement in 2006.

Ella’s entertaining centered around her grandchildren as the family grew.  She started babysitting when her first grandchild Douglas was born.  She would make “Grandma Noodles” after church and was known for baking kringla, krumkake, apple pie, rhubarb bars, rice krispie bars and her famous turkey stuffing.  As she had learned from her mother, Ella shared her love of crocheting with her daughters and granddaughters.  She became famous for her baby bath towels and baby blankets.  Ella loved attending sport and musical events that the grandchildren were involved in.

Ella was very active with the Joseph A.T. Moe American Legion Auxiliary and East Nidaros Church.  Ella also enjoyed visiting with friends at the Baltic Corner.

Earl passed away in December 2008, and Ella continued to live on the farm, mastering her mowing skills and tending to her apple trees, until moving to Friendship Village in Dell Rapids in January 2017.  Ella loved living across the hallway from her dear sister-in-law Inez Wilson and making new friends.  When Ella needed more care, she moved down the street to Orchard Hills Assisted Living in December 2019.  As with all residents in assisted living, covid separation was not easy for Ella; but the staff helped get her through it.  At the end of October 2021, Ella moved to Sioux Falls to reside at Edgewood Prairie Crossings until moving to the memory facility, Edgewood Vista, the beginning of May 2023.  Avera Hospice helped with Ella’s care from September 6, 2023, until her passing at the Dougherty House.  Wherever Ella lived, she created great friendships and was known for entertaining them with her snappy, quick-witted and feisty ways.

Throughout her life, Ella had a special, close relationship with her sister, Elsie.  From living with Elsie and her family to long daily talks on the phone, Ella and Elsie were always connected and caring for each other.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughters:  Lorna (Scott) Johnston, Aberdeen; Veloy “Val” Reddick, Belgrade, MT; Rosalie (Ryne) Riswold-Brende, Baltic; and Dr. Yvonne (Matthew) DeWitte, Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren: Doug (Karly Hegge) Nohava; Kate (Jesse) Patrick; Sadie, Logan and Lilly Reddick; Shalece, Dylan and Chantel Brende; and Gilbert DeWitte; seven great grandchildren: Kalyce, Amity, Norie, Reeve and Porter Nohava and Owen and Nolan Patrick; her remaining sibling, Elsie Wagner, Sioux Falls; special niece Rita Laumer; her dear nieces and nephews, numerous extended family and many treasured friends.

Ella is preceded in death by husband Earl, her parents, in-laws, one sister, four brothers and three sisters-in-law.