Arla Wurtz

Memorial services for Arla Wurtz will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church at a later date.

Arla was born June 6, 1931, to Adolph and Anna (Voos) Knittel on a farm south of Dallas, SD. She attended Fairview #45 country school south of Dallas, SD. It was a one-room rural school, which was attended by her father, Adolph, and all of her siblings. The country school is still owned by her sister, Judith, who recently refurbished and restored it to its original looks. Arla graduated from Gregory High School with the Class of 1949. She attended college at Southern State Teacher College in Springfield, SD. It was there that she met and later married Kenneth Wurtz of Tyndall, SD. Their wedding took place at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD, on August 12, 1951. They had two sons, Kevin and Keith.

Arla taught a few years in country schools before becoming a stay at home mom. She enjoyed baking and cooking, as well as taking care of her family. They lived in various towns where her husband taught in Secondary education. The towns where they resided were Marion, Monroe, Delmont, Stickney, Parkston, and Alcester, all in South Dakota. After moving to Vermillion, SD, Arla worked as a librarian at I D Weeks University Library for ten years.

Arla’s biggest joys in life were her children and grandchildren, as well as the great-grandchildren. She attnded all the school events, especially sports and concerts. Quilting was a hobby that made her happy in the years after she retired and she designed scrapbooks for each grandchild’s graduation. She was an active volunteer in many organizations, including the W H Over Museum and the Guatemalan store in Vermillion.

Arla A. Wurtz, 91, of Elk Point, SD, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at Wel-Life Assisted Living in Elk Point, SD.

She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Kevin (Barb) Wurtz of Elk Point, SD, and Keith (Nancy) Wurtz of Milford, IA; six grandchildren: Allison (Sterne) Akin of Elk Point, SD, Christopher (Jen) Wurtz of Rochester, MN, Kimberly (Michael) Sundling of Rochester, MN, Michael Wurtz of Elk Point, SD, Erica (Jens) Hjelm of Mildford, IA, and Ryan Wurtz of Lino Lakes, MN; one sister, Judith Meierhenry of Sioux Falls, SD; and seven great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Kenneth; her parents, Adolph and Anna; two brothers, Donald and Marvin Knittel.

Kober Funeral Home of Elk Point, SD, has been entrusted with the services. Condolences may be posted on www.koberfuneralhome.com.