Alma Dockter, age 91 of Milbank died July 31, 2017, at St. William’s Care Center. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 3,... Alma Dockter

Alma Dockter, age 91 of Milbank died July 31, 2017, at St. William’s Care Center.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 3, at 2:00 p.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank. Rev. Bill Cornelius will officiate and burial will be in the Milbank Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5 – 7 pm at Mundwiler Funeral Home. Visitation will continue at the church on Thursday, one hour prior to the service.

Music will be provided by Carol Ydstie, organist.

Honorary bearers will be Alma’s special friends: Bob, Susan, and Kate Capp.

Alma Dorinne (Butenschoen) Dockter was born on February 6, 1926, in Grant County, SD. She was the daughter of George and Sophie (Westerman) Butenschoen. Alma grew up in the Marvin/Summit area. She attended rural school in Grant County and one year of high school in Summit. She later received her GED.

Alma did her stint as Rosie the Riveter during World War II. At the age of 16 years, Alma left home to go to Chicago where she became a welder of water cans used to transport water or gasoline. Later she was a welder of ships at Puget Sound in Bremerton, WA.
Alma returned to South Dakota was united in marriage with Ellwood Raymond Dockter on February 27, 1946, in Milbank. Together they farmed in Grant County and raised their son, Daethal. Alma worked a variety of jobs. She worked in the office at the Milbank hospital from 1960-1970. She worked at Midland Printing and the Herald Advance for more than ten years. She later was the co-manager for the Community Thrift Store in Milbank.

Alma was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She was a faithful member of Emanuel Lutheran Church and active with the ladies activities. She was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She and Ellwood enjoyed traveling, camping, and fishing. They were fortunate to take two trips to Alaska. Ellwood died on September 7, 2004.

Left to cherish her memory are her son and daughter-in-law, Daethal and Sharon Dockter of Milbank, SD; one grandson, Jason (Tiffani) Dockter of Sioux Falls, SD; two great-granddaughters: Alyse and Melia; her sibilings, all of Washington state: Dorothy (Harold) Hurlbert; Charles Butenschoen; Ted Butenschoen; Henry (Alice) Butenschoen; David (Nancy) Butenschoen; and Leroy (Delores) Butenschoen of Sioux Falls, SD; two brothers-in-law: Lowell Dockter of South Shore, SD; and Arlo Dockter of Milbank, SD; one sister-in-law, Ardith Larson of Milbank, SD.

Alma was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brothers: Oscar, George, and Bob.

Mundwiler Funeral Home

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