Alice Leone Kreinbuhl

Funeral services for Alice Kreinbuhl, 92, of Iona, SD, were held on Monday, February, 27, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Gregory with Pastor Royal Archer officiating. A visitation was held Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 5 p.m. at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory.

Music was provided by Geoff Smith, vocalist, and Bette Fogel, pianist. Linda Feyereisen was in charge of registration. Cindy Talsma, Maria Talsma, Sherri Wynia, and Patti Aubert were flower attendants.

Casket bearers were Tim Talsma, Kevin Talsma, Aaron Aubert, Doug Lane, Randy Kreinbuhl, and Kelly Kreinbuhl.

Honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren: Wyatt Aubert, Brian Aubert, Valinda Aubert, Ashley Aubert, Patti Aubert, Greg Aubert, Zane Aubert, Brady Lane, Tiffaney Lane-Stoyanov, Iliyan Stoyanov, Brenda Lane, Kayla Talsma, Tanya Talsma, Cindy Talsma, Keith Talsma, Maria Talsma, Jennifer Talsma, Amber Talsma, Lucky Wynia, Sherri Wynia, Kole Wynia, Saddi Wynia. Honored guests were Laura Reis-Fletcher, Merle Talsma, Alice Hutmaker, and Granny Marsh.

Interment was in the Iona Cemetery, Iona, SD. Memorial donations will be used for the upkeep of the Iona Cemetery.

* * * * *

Alice Leone Walker Kreinbuhl was born at Mitchell, South Dakota, the youngest of eight children in the family of Ellwood and Alice (Clark) Walker. She has lived around Iona, South Dakota all of her life, except for a brief time when she lived at White River and Vetal, South Dakota.

She was married to Walter Kreinbuhl on May 8, 1935 at Winner, SD. Alice was just sixteen years old but was ready to help Walt build a life together. Their first home was on his family ranch north of Iona. Walt was pleasantly surprised when he found out that his bride was an excellent cook and made great homemade bread too. Walt and Alice spent 62 happy years living within one mile of that location.

Always busy, Alice was not afraid to tackle anything. She learned to be good with a hammer with the guidance of her brother Frank Walker, but her favorite love was working outside on the ranch. Many hours were spent outside with Walt driving around and "checking the cattle". There was no task on the ranch that Alice was not involved with including working with the cattle or helping to overhaul something. She disliked bookwork, but did it anyway because "it had to be done".

She was a longtime member of the Iona Friendly Neighbors Club, joining in 1955, and enjoyed her friendship with the other members and helping in the community. For a time she was the substitute postmaster in Iona.

As the years went by, the family grew and "grandma's house" was a favorite spot. Good food and a lot of love was dispensed to the family. The family gatherings remain a happy memory to family members, and will never be forgotten.

Her legacy will not be for the awards she won, but for the unselfish life she led. She thought of others first and herself second and will always be loved and remembered for her soft spoken manner.

Alice continued to live on the ranch with her grandsons Randy and Kelly until June of 2010 when she moved to Silver Threads Assisted Living in Gregory, SD. In September, 2010 she moved to the Gregory Nursing Home where she lived until February, 2012. After a brief stay in the Sioux Falls Heart Hospital, she moved to the Pipestone Hospice House on February 16, 2012, where she passed away on February 20, 2012 at the age of 92.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna and husband Don Straw of Pipestone, MN and eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren, one sister-in-law Ina Walker of Kansas City, a son-in-law Merle Talsma of Iona and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband Walt Kreinbuhl, her daughter, Shirley Talsma, and her son Max Kreinbuhl, a son-in-law Con Aubert, a great-great-granddaughter Ceona Mitchell, and her seven siblings.