Stephens, Ella 1880-1977

STEPHENS, ZIMMERMAN, NEUMASTER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Plymouth CC (email)
Date: 10/19/2004 at 13:23:10

MRS. ELLA STEPHENS, MEMBER OF PIONEER FAMILY, DEAD AT 97

Mrs. Ella Stephens, 97, member of a pioneer Plymouth county family and mother of state representative Lyle Stephens, LeMars, died Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 16, 1977) at the Akron hospital.

She had been hospitalized since Sunday after suffering a heart attack.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Plymouth Presbyterian church, rural Akron, under the direction of the Mauer funeral home, LeMars.

Rev. Earl Underwood will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery.

A prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Mauer funeral home.

Mrs. Stephens was born April 23, 1880, the oldest daughter of Noah and Fredericka (Neumaster) Zimmerman, on a farm south of LeMars near Melbourne.

In 1902 she moved with her parents to Brookings, S.D.

June 1, 1905, Ella Elizabeth Zimmerman was married to LeRoy (Roy) Stephens and moved to the Stephens farm 3 miles west of Brunsville. To this union one son, Lyle, was born.

Mr. and Mrs. Stephens farmed for five years and then homesteaded at Sturgis, S.D. After two years they returned to their farm west of Brunsville.

They retired in 1931 and lived the rest of their lives with ½ mile of the old home. In 1951 the Stephens moved into a new home ½ mile north of the old home. Mrs. Stephens died Dec. 16, 1964.

“Gramma” Stephens was able to keep up her home and nice garden until the time of her heart attack in October. Gramma Stephens was known for her beautiful flowers.

She was a member of the Presbyterian church and the last of the charter members of the Plymouth Presbyterian Ladies Aid.

Survivors are her son Lyle and daughter-in-law, Marie, of rural LeMars, whom she considered as a daughter.

Also surviving are three grandchildren: Margaret Torbert, Akron; Mary Loughran, Iowa City, and Jay B. Stephens, Washington D.C.; two great grandsons and two great granddaughters and one sister Rose Hawkins, Parkers, S.D.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one brother Jake Zimmerman, three sisters, Lydia Buller, Parker, S.D., Carrie Rudebusch, and Lucille Rudebusch, Brookings, S.D.