Alma Buttke

Alma Buttke, age 94 of Milbank, SD, (formerly of Corona, SD) passed away on December 8, 2023, in Milbank.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Corona.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 14, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank.  Visitation will continue at the church on Friday, one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be at Kilborn Lutheran Cemetery, Corona. 

Alma Irene Buttke was born on July 16, 1929, in Milbank to Ewald and Alma Buerkle Fischer.  Alma’s mother passed away at the hospital 10 days later. On September 23, 1930, Ewald married Martha Buerkle, who was a cousin to Alma Buerkle Fischer.  Alma was baptized, confirmed and married at Emanuel Lutheran church in Milbank. She attended Milbank School and graduated in 1948. On September 19, 1948, she was united in marriage with Eldred Buttke.  Alma (“Tootsie” to her side of the family) went from being a city girl to a farmer’s wife.  Together they raised their seven children.  

Alma loved gardening, canning, cooking and baking, and all of her children and grandchildren. She made excellent bread, six loaves at a time.  When she thought she needed to lose some weight she helped with the milking by carrying the pails of milk to the bulk tank (and she did lose weight.) Later a transfer was added and she no longer needed to carry the milk.  Her remarks were sometimes blunt, but she had a heart of gold. Alma and Eldred were regular Bingo players in Milbank and occasionally took a grandkid along. They also enjoyed going to the local Country Music Jamberees and loved it when kids or grandkids could go with.  They took a trip on the Amtrak to visit relatives and said they really enjoyed it but wouldn’t do it again.  Alma was active in her church with Ladies Aide and teaching Sunday school.  After they moved into Corona she was involved with the Senior Citizens Group.  When the kids were young she did not play cards with the family, probably due to lack of time, but when kids were all grown she learned to play and always carried a deck of cards in her purse.  She claimed she did not know how to play very well, but she ended up winning many times. She always looked forward to visits from the grandkids, keeping her chocolate chip cookies on hand. Alma did not learn to drive until after marriage and was not too keen on driving. When the twins were young and looking out the back window of the car while Alma was driving they would tell her “Ma you’re making dust.”

Left to cherish her memory are her seven children: Marty (Deb) Buttke of Milbank, Brian (Susie) Buttke of Corona, Regina (Leslie) Rethke of Milbank, Ronda (David) Hanson, Brent (Renae) Buttke, Bradley (Donna) Buttke of Corona and James Buttke of Spearfish, SD, 16 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, brother-in-law Richard (Judy) Buttke. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Eldred, brothers Milton and Arnold, sisters Irma and Beverly, grandson Luke Rethke, great granddaughter Emily Hanson and great grandson Philip Buttke.