Eldena Haerer, age 95, of Philip, South Dakota, died on Friday, June 6, 2025 at Scotchman Living Center in Philip.
Visitation will be one hour preceding the services at the church.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 12, at First Lutheran Church in Wall, with Pastor Christopher McCarthy officiating.
Interment will follow the luncheon at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Eldena Marie (Foster) Haerer was born October 21, 1929, in Lake Wilson, Minnesota to James F. and Mabel A. (Thompson) Foster. She was the oldest of ten children. Eldena was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Minnesota.
The family moved to South Dakota when Eldena was in 8th grade. She was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Midland and graduated from Midland High School in 1948. Eldena was very active in many high school activities.
On May 23, 1948, Eldena married Wayne F. Haerer, and to this union were born four children: Wayne Dean, Jr., Bonna Faye, Darwin Dale, and Marla Marie. They made their home on their ranch, raising cattle and training horses. They later moved to Sturgis after Wayne retired.
She and Wayne were good dancers and enjoyed square dancing. They enjoyed attending rodeos and watching their children participate. They travelled to many states and visited Alaska twice.
In 2019, Eldena and Wayne moved into the Scotchman Living Center in Philip, where she has since resided.
Those left to mourn her passing include four children: Wayne Haerer Jr. and his wife Nancy of Green Valley, AZ, Bonna Fortune and her husband Roger of Quinn, Darwin Haerer and his wife Betty of Wall, and Marla Sherburne and her husband Jim of MN; eight grandchildren: Bryan, Holly, Heather, Cory, Dar, Jr. Mindy, Joshua, and Jennifer; twenty great-grandchildren; Jayden, McKenzy, Wyatt, Wynn, Sage, Ember, Cedar, Latham, Riley, Carter, Chloe, Emmylyn, Deacon, Camden, Hudson, Owen, Addison, Jace, Crew and Talon; five great-great-grandchildren: McCrae, Reiney, Avery, Braxten, and Ryker; brothers James (Cheryl) Foster of Rapid City and Leslie (Vivan) Foster of Dublin, GA; sisters: Bonnie Martin of Philip and Darlene (Amos) Knight of Rushville, NE; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Eldena was preceded in death by her husband Wayne on December 25, 2023; her parents; two grandchildren Marty and Darcy; two great-great-grandsons Brace and Paxton; brother Orville Foster; sisters Fay Reuer, Jesse Mae Brewer, Leola (Henry) Schultz, and Mary Lou (Jerry) Wallner.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Wall.
