Rueben Hemmah

ROSLYN- Rueben Hemmah 94 of Webster and formally of Roslyn died on Thursday, April 03, 2008 at Bethesda Home in Webster. His funeral will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, April 5, 2008 at Fron Lutheran Church near Roslyn, Janet Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster on Friday 4-8 P.M. and prior to services at the church on Saturday. Rueben Odin Hemmah was born on Tuesday, March 31, 1914 to Adolph and Josephine (Pederson) Hemmah on the family farm near Hillhead, South Dakota. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Veblen and later confirmed at Fron Lutheran Church near Roslyn. He attended District 123 Country School near his home in Liberty Township where the family had moved. After his schooling he worked on the family farm with his father. In 1939 he moved to Los Angeles, California and worked in a Defense Plant. In November 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. While in the service he met Verona Guilford at Kansas City, Missouri, while she was serving as a Wave in the U.S. Navy. Over the next two years they only had two dates, but communicated through letters. On December 8, 1945 the couple were married. After they were discharged from the service the couple made their home in Liberty Township, Day County, northwest of Roslyn and farmed. In 1974 they retired from farming and enjoyed visiting family and friends. Playing cards and spending time fishing at Pickerel Lake. In 1979 their son, Duane and wife, Debra purchased the family farm. Mrs. Hemmah passed away in August 1996. After her death, Rueben moved in with his daughter, Noreen in Missouri until recently moving to Bethesda Home in Webster. Rueben passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2008 at Webster, South Dakota at the age of 94 years and 3 days. Survivors include two sons, Lloyd (Kathy) Hemmah of Hutchinson, MN and Duane (Debra) Hemmah of Webster, SD; one daughter, Noreen (Dennis) Randall of Excelsior Springs, MO; one brother, Jim (Beverly) Hemmah of Sturgis, SD; three sisters, Edna Steensland of Rolla, MO, Mildred Loseth of Grand Forks, ND and Thelma Grandquist of Mineapolis, MN; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters and two brothers.