Marcella Erne

Marcella K. Erne, age 91 of Milbank died April 9, 2017, at St. William’s Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 12, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank, with Fr. Gary DeRouchey officiating.

Visitation will be at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank on Tuesday, April 11 from 5 – 7 p.m. with a prayer vigil at 7 p.m.

The urn bearer will be her grandson, Ryan Hilbrands. Honorary bearers will be Marcella’s great-grandchildren. Gift Bearers will be her granddaughters: Sarah Will, Brandy Johanson Sebrea, Megan Johanson, Brittany Johanson, and Mya Johanson. Burial will be at St. Lawrence Cemetery.

Marcella Erne was born March 12, 1926, to Thomas and Elizabeth “Bessie” (Wagner) Kelly. She attended St. Lawrence Catholic School, and continued through the 8th grade.

Marcella was united in marriage with Marion Burt. They were blessed with two daughters: Sandy and Betsy. While Marion was a truck driver they lived in Kansas and Denver, CO. Following Marion’s death Marcella and her daughters moved to Milbank and have since resided.

Marcella worked as a waitress for different restaurants and worked in the laundry department at St. Williams Care Center for 20 years. She made several friendships along the way that she cherished over the years. After working for St. William’s, Marcella was a homemaker and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Marcella met and married LeRoy Erne while she lived in Milbank.

Marcella was an active member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church. She was involved with Catholic Daughters, V.F.W. Auxiliary, and loved reading a good book. Marcella cherished the time she was able to spend with her grandchildren and enjoyed reading to them.

Left to cherish her memory are her two daughters: Sandy Hilbrands and Betsy (Irvin) Johanson both of Milbank, SD; six grandchildren: Ryan (Kelly) Hilbrands, Sara Will, Brandy (Brian) Johanson Sebrea, Megan Johanson (and fiancé Tom Castillo), Brittany Johanson (and fiancé Blakely Brush), and Mya Johanson; seven great-grandchildren: Madyson Hilbrands, Evan Erickson, Rylynn Schmidt, Kennedy Hilbrands, Alex Hilbrands, Aissa Johanson Sebrea, Teshi Johanson Sebrea and Kairu Johanson Sebrea; foreign exchange granddaughter, Carolin Klettke of Germany; and brother, LeRoy (Rose) Kelly of Milbank.

She was preceded in death by her two husbands: Marion Burt and LeRoy Erne; her parents: Thomas and Bessie Kelly; two sisters; eight brothers; one brother-in-law; and seven sisters-in-law.