Julie Birney

Julie Birney, age 62, of Summit, SD, died Saturday, September 8, 2018, at the Wilmot Care Center.

Services for Julie Birney will be held Saturday, September 15, 2018. At Hope Lutheran Church in Summit at 10:30 a.m. Officiating the service will be Rev. Janet Miller. Visitation will be at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank on Friday, September 14, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at the Ortley Free Cemetery.

Julie Ann (Wittrock) Birney was born August 15, 1956, to Harold and Rita (Martell) Wittrock. She was their fourth and middle child. She grew up in Milbank, SD, and resided in Grant County all her life. She attended and graduated from Milbank High School in 1974.

Julie married the love of her life, Reed Birney, on September 28, 1991. They shared 19 years together before Reed passed away in 2011.

She worked in several places in her early adulthood but had a long career with United Hardware in Milbank, and retired in November 2016, after 34 years.

Julie loved Christmas, and in 1984, she started a tradition of making a different Christmas ornament every year for family & friends. The last few years, she was making 100 per year! Julie also loved to entertain, play cards, do crafts, plan family reunions, and hosting her annual Christmas party.

Julie is survived by her mother and step-father: Rita and Marlowe Vreim of Wilmot, SD; two step-sons: Justin (Tamara) Birney of El Cajon, CA, and Dustin Birney of Las Vegas, NV; five step-grandchildren; sisters: Vicki (Sidney) Munson of Tea, SD, and Debra (Wayne) Tschetter of Huron , SD; brothers: Terry (Christy) Wittrock of Milbank, SD, Marty (Joyce) Wittrock of Wilmot, SD, and Tracy (Angela) Wittrock of Watertown; along with many nieces and nephews.

Julie is preceded in death by her husband, Reed; father, Harold; brother, Jerry Wittrock; sister-in-law, Debbie (Grant) Wittrock; brother-in-law, Dwight Grant; one niece; and one great-niece.