ETHEL REIFF

Services were Monday, July 26, at the First Baptist Church in Avon. Burial was in the Trinity Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Avon. The service was livestreamed on the Avon First Baptist Church YouTube channel. Peters Funeral Chapel in Avon was in charge of arrangements.

Ethel Marie, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, died Thursday, July 22, 2021 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Wagner.

Ethel Marie (Mount) Reiff was born July 24, 1933 in Canby, Minnesota to Ray and Elsie (Crandall) Mount. She attended school in Gary until she was a sophomore and then attended Avon until she graduated. She received her teaching degree from Southern State College and taught for two years at a country school. She later worked at St. Michael’s Hospital in housekeeping.

Ethel married Lloyd Reiff on April 11, 1953 at the First Presbyterian Church in Avon. Their union was blessed with four children. They raised the family on the farm south of Avon. Ethel spent many years working alongside Lloyd.

Ethel will be remembered for many things: her love of gardening, reading, speed walking, card playing and her witty sense of humor. But most notably she was an amazing cook and baker…from apple pies to cookies, bars and brownies, she always had a sweet baked and ready to share. At Ethel’s house, there was always room at the table for one more.

Ethel was a fan of any sport or activity her grandchildren and great grandchildren were involved in. She was incredibly proud and always their biggest supporter.

Thankful for having shared her life are her four children: Tom (Jo) Reiff of Parkston, Deb (Wally) Voigt of Avon, Richard (Nina) Reiff of Avon and Kay (Bryan) Shumock of Mt. Pleasant, SC; 10 grandchildren: Nikki (Brent) Weller of Rochester, MN, Riley (Amy) Reiff of Pickstown, Eric Reiff of Parkston, Brady Reiff of Des Moines, IA, Amy (Matt) Yost of Wagner, Lance Reiff of Avon, Amanda (Wyatt) Beeson of Avon, Kara (Soliman) Eid of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Erika (Joe Espana) Shumock of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Kali Shumock of Boston, MA; 10 great grandchildren: Aria, William and Winston Weller, Eli Marshall and Barrett Reiff, Emma and Lydia Yost, Avery and Alyvia Beeson and Sophia Eid; one brother, Ronald Mount of Avon; brother-in-law, Bob (JoAnn) Reiff of Avon; two sisters-in-law: Merle Reiff and Cleo Reiff, both of Avon; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, parents, one brother, Robert Mount, one sister, Joyce Merkwan; sisters-in-law: Ruth Ann Mount, Clarice Reiff and Alma Nelson; and five brothers-in-law: Francis, Marvin, Ray, Johnnie and Dale Reiff.