from the Pierre Capital Journal
Thursday, March 17, 2005

Grace Crain, 90, of Blunt, died on Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at St. Mary's TCU, Pierre.

Visitation will be held at the Feigum-VanLith Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 17.

Funeral services will be held at the New Life Assembly Church at 1120 N. Harrison Ave., Pierre, at 10 a.m. Friday, March 18. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blunt.

Grace Winifred Bernice Hillmer was born to James and Hatti Jane Hillmer on Feb. 27, 1915, at their homestead in the rural Blunt area. She was the fifth of 11 children. Her mother died when she was 13. She was the oldest daughter living at home. At this time she assumed the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, and helping to care for her younger siblings. Grace was so small that the only way for her to cook was to stand on the door of the wood-burning cookstove.

Grace married Earl Martin Crain on Oct. 14, 1933, in Belle Fourche. He was farming sugar beets at that time. During their marriage Earl worked as a farm and ranch hand. In the '30s, they lived and worked on the Herman Geppart Ranch. Grace also worked on the ranch to earn room and board. Her jobs were cooking and doing laundry for the hired men. Grace and Earl celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1983. They were the parents of two daughters, Donna Mae and Judy Ann.

Grace was well-known in the Blunt area for her many hobbies and talents. She was a great seamstress. She loved to patch up jeans, but her favorite projects were wedding gowns. She always told her family that she couldn't wait to get to heaven to sew for the angels. Grace loved to be outside in the garden. She raised huge vegetable gardens and then "put up" the produce for family and friends to enjoy. She raised many chickens and geese, most of which she hatched from incubated eggs. Grace was a beloved baby sitter for many families, and she loved the children as if they were her own, considering them adopted grandchildren.

Grace recently celebrated her 90th birthday. It was a fantastic day enjoyed by Grace as well as family and friends.

Grace is survived by one brother, Norval Hillmer and his wife Ruth of Payson, Ariz.; one sister Hazel Stuart of Beatrice, Neb.; daughters Donna May Nye of Blunt and Judy Staples and her husband Cecil of Pierre; grandchildren Richard Nye and his wife Dawn of Prior Lake, Minn., Jamie Nye and his wife Jennifer of Onida, Debra Wheaton and her husband Richard of Belle Fourche, and Brett Staples and his wife Angel of Gillette, Wyo.; honorary grandchild Jody Spangelberg of Sioux Falls; and 10 great-grandchildren, Earl James and his wife Janiella, Lydia Grace, Colton Jamie, DeShayne Rae, Jessica, Nathan Earl, Haley Rae, Colin James, Jesse Earl, Jody and her husband Aaron.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband Earl, eight brothers and sisters, and several nieces and nephews.