Matilda Bertha Fritza, 88, died Sunday, November 23 at Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston. Funeral mass will be Wednesday, November 26 at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Parkston. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 25 from 5 to 7 pm with a 7:00 pm prayer service at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Parkston. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Parkston. Condolences may be left at www.koehnbrosfuneralhome.com
Tillie was born October 7th, 1926 to Henry and Margaret (Kimber) Oster in Ethan, SD. She attended and graduated from Ethan High school and then received her teaching certificate from Springfield Normal School. She began her teaching career in a Country School in Davison County. Tillie was united in marriage to Leo Fritza on June 11th, 1946 in Ethan. They moved to a farm west of Parkston, SD where they raised their family and resided for 64 years. While raising her family, she resumed her more than 30 year teaching career. During this time, she graduated with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Dakota Wesleyn University. Tillie was a long time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she was involved in Catholic Daughters for over 60 years, Altar Society, study club, bible study and was a RENEW leader. She was also a member of the Parkston American Legion auxiliary.
She is survived by five children: Patricia (Justin) Foss of Minneapolis, MN; Diane (Bob) Gordon of Montrose, SD; Kathy (David) Talsma of Spearfish, SD; Dan (Carol) Fritza of South Sioux City, NE; and Janet (Perry) Herrboldt of Tea, SD; 10 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Mary Barnes of Portland, OR and Phyllis (Clair) Lambert of Artesian, SD; 3 sisters-in-law, Devonia Oster of Mitchell, SD; Vi Fritza of Mt Vernon, SD; and Marie Roemen of Dell Rapids, SD; and a brother-in-law, Norb (Joan) Fritza of Parkston.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leo; a son, David; an infant daughter, Carol; 3 brothers, Francis, Tony and John; and 3 sisters, Sr. Margaret Mary, June and Ruth.