Obituary of Effie Ann Uttecht

Corsica – Surrounded by family, Effie Ann Uttecht was called to her heavenly home at the Good Samaritan Society in Corsica, SD on August 2, 2024 at the age of 87.  Funeral service will be Tuesday, August 6 at 10:00 am at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Armour with burial following in Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Delmont.  Visitation will be Monday, August 5 from 5 to 7 pm, with a 7:00 pm prayer service, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Armour.

Effie was born November 5, 1936 at the family home South of Harrison, SD to John and Gertrude (Beukelman) Korevaar. She was baptized at Reformed Church in Harrison and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Mitchell, SD. She attended Leddy Country School South of Harrison and a quarter mile from home, graduating 8th grade. Effie remained at home for a couple years before moving to Armour, SD, staying with Ruth Goldhammer and working at Ruth’s Café. She moved to Mitchell to work at Den Beste Drugstore. She married Alvin Uttecht May 10, 1958 at Zion Lutheran Church in Mitchell and they moved to a farm near Valley Station outside of Armour where she was a farm wife tending to the house, children, chickens, garden, and canning. Alvin passed away February 22, 1973. Effie and her daughters moved into Armour Summer of 1974. Effie worked at Wunder’s Market, ran a home daycare including helping care for her grandchildren, worked at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in housekeeping, and at the Wagner Daycare Center until retiring Fall of 2005. Effie continued to live in Armour close to family. Surrounded by family, Effie was called to her heavenly home at the Good Samaritan Society in Corsica, SD on August 2, 2024 at the age of 87.

Effie was active in the church with the Women’s Circle, LWML, and teaching Sunday School and catechism. She enjoyed playing cards, listening to Charlie Pride music, embordering, making quilts, rummaging, gardening, and canning. She was the family seamstress, mending countless items. She liked listening, watching, and dancing to polka music. She painted inside some homes with her sister Rosie. Her home always smelled of fresh baked goods, especially chocolate chip cookies. Rare could you visit without having one of the baked goods she had just made. She had an extensive collection of nativity scenes, some placed into basket displays made by Effie and friends. Above all else, she loved her family and believed in the Lord.

Effie is survived by daughter Cindy (Marty) Bigge of Armour; grandchildren, Joshua Bosma of Armour, Matthew (Megan) Bosma of Mitchell, Raymond (Jamie) Bigge of Armour, and Rachel (Nate) Rus of Armour; Great grandchildren Jackson and Cooper Bosma of Mitchell, Olivia and Gweneth Bigge of Armour, and Paisley Rus of Armour; and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Effie was preceded in death by her parents John and Gertrude Korevaar, brother Adrian Korevaar, husband Alvin Uttecht, sister Nelly Sterk and brother-in-Law Johnie Sterk, sister Rosie Grosz, daughter Deborah Bosma and son-in-law David Bosma.