Mattie E. Wood, 96, of Dell Rapids passed away on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center. Mattie’s funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 22, 2013 in the Kahler Funeral Home Chapel. The family will be present for visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday in the funeral home.
Mattie Wood passed from this world on April 17, 2013 at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center where she had been a resident since the summer of 2012. She was born in Ward Township to parents Thomas E. Dexter and Laura M. Anderson Dexter. She and her Three siblings were raised on the family farm, and attended school in Ward. Her three siblings, sister Valeda, and brothers Eldon and Lee preceded her in death.
At age 22 she married Russell Fox in Flandreau, and four children were born of this marriage – Mary Ann, Gerald, Kathie, and Jim. She was widowed at the age of 26. Her sister Valdeda and her parents all pitched in and helped her with the four children. Later she moved to Sioux Falls, and that was her home until moving to Dell Rapids. In 1947 she met and married Elon A. Wood from Ohio. He preceded her in death in 1999. During her years in Sioux Falls, she worked for Morrells for over 30 years. She made many lifelong friends during her years there. After retirement, she went to work for Hy-Vee Foods, and worked there until her 90th birthday! She loved her job, and all the people she met. No matter where she worked she always did her best.
Mattie is survived by daughters Kim of Dell Rapids and Mary Ann of Spokane, Wa., grand children Regan, and Erin of Sioux Falls, CP of Spokane, and April and Beau of Deer Park, NY, great grandchildren, Haley, Allie, Annie, Michael and Matt of Sioux Falls, Jaden Patrick of Spokane, and Diamond, Destiny, and Lenny of New York. She is preceded in death by three of her children, Gerald, Kathie, and Jim.
During her lifetime she endured many tragedies but she never lost her faith, and always did her best. She was well loved and will be missed by many.