Lillian Middlesworth

Funeral services for Lillian Middlesworth were held on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Winner, SD, with Mother Annie Henninger officiating. Music was provided by Ronald Highrock, pianist. Marla Liggett and Ann Marts were in charge of registration. Kathy Svoboda, Carrie Howard and Suzanne Kahler were flower attendants. Casket bearers were Anthony Middlesworth, Bill Marshall, Greg Olsen, Jeff Howard, Jim Kahler, and Zeke Parvin. Lillian Ruth (White Pipe) Middlesworth was born on June 3, 1943, in Okreek, SD, on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. She was the oldest of six children born to Charles, Sr. and Lorraine (Prue) White Pipe, Lillian lived in Okreek with her family until she was 12 years old and only spoke Lakota. When the family decided to move to Gregory, Lillian’s grandma and cousins helped her learn English before she started seventh grade in Gregory schools, where she graduated from high school in 1961.

Lillian married Wayne Middlesworth on August 8, 1970, and they established themselves and raised two children in Winner, SD. She started working for the Gregory Hospital right after high school in 1962 and stayed there until 1989 as a medical transcriptionist. She then took her transcriptionist skills to the Winner Family Clinic and worked there from 1989 to 2012.

Lillian was involved in her community. She was a licensed EMT for 30 years. She served on boards for Community Connections and Southern Plains Mental Health. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a very active member of Trinity Episcopal Church. She was always willing to help with any event or activity she could.

In addition to her community involvement, Lillian enjoyed cooking, making delicious meals for family gatherings, and crocheting blankets, slippers, and wash rags. She sold Avon for over 20 years, and she worked a few other part-time jobs after her kids were grown, just to keep herself busy.

Lillian easily made friends wherever she went, and loved making others laugh by telling jokes, and funny stories or playing pranks.

Lillian is survived by her son Anthony Middlesworth; and daughter Sara Middlesworth, both of Winner, SD; her grandsons Brandyn (Sam) Middlesworth of Winner, SD; Rhys Middlesworth and Dawsyn Middlesworth, both of Rapid City, SD; Tyson Middlesworth of Crystal River, FL; Philip Kahler of Winner, SD; and Brian (Jordyn) Kahler of Sioux Falls, SD; her granddaughters Angela Middlesworth of Crystal River, FL and Amber (Kyle) Wilhelmsen of Burke, SD; her great-grandchildren Zayden and Kyland Middlesworth; Darian, Keyara, and Kade Ivy; Braelynn Middlesworth; William, Weston, Wrenn, and Victoria Wilhelmsen; and Bryce, Cash, and Reagan Kahler. She is also survived by her younger brothers, Bryan (Brenda) White Pipe and Gary White Pipe, both of Gregory, SD; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and all their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brother Elmer White Pipe and his wife Judie; her brother Charles White Pipe, Jr.; her sister Gayle White Pipe; her nephews Tim Crouch and Eldon White Pipe; her son-in-law Stuart Kahler; and one brother who was stillborn.