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Remembering those who have left us. This obituaries page is a simple tribute to individuals who touched our lives. May their legacies endure in our memories.
Rilda M. Ketchum
11/15/1938 - 08/07/2024
Obituary For Rilda M. Ketchum
Rilda Mae Ketchum was born on November 15, 1938, the identical twin of Reva Rae Maas. They joined big brother, Audley. When the girls were 8 days old their father, Floyd, was killed, leaving their mother, Pearl Hendricks, a single mother of three.
Rilda was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Rilda and Reva played piano, organ and sang in the church throughout their lives. They attended SDA schools, graduating from Plainview Academy in Redfield, SD in 1957. Lifelong friendships were created at the academy. A few include Alton Pfeifle, Gary Smith, Barbara Christopher, & Betty Robertson.
After high school she attended Black Hills Teacher's College and spent one year teaching in Thief River Falls, MN. One year was enough of that for Rilda, however she continued to correct our grammar for the rest of her life.
Rilda returned to Black Hills graduating with a secretarial certification. She began working for the Veterans Administration in 1960. Her career took her from Hot Springs, SD to Washington DC and back to the Black Hills. In 1966, she married Winfield Pengra and moved to Watertown, SD. When Winfield was offered a job in Leavenworth, KS, she returned to the VA, working in Leavenworth, KS. In 1982 she was awarded upward mobility allowing her to return to college, earning her RN in 1984. She returned to the Leavenworth VA as a nurse. However, when Winfield's health began to deteriorate, she transferred back to the Hot Springs VA so Win could be in the Black Hills. She retired from the VA in January, 1995.
Winfield died in April of 1995. Rilda continued to live in Hot Springs until 2005 when she married Kenneth Ketchum in Lansing, KS. They traveled between their two homes until 2018 when Rilda sold her home. They relocated to Rapid City, SD to be closer to Jill. Ken died in June of 2023, leaving Rilda a widow again.
Rilda's health began to fail shortly after Ken's death. Jill moved into Rilda's home. Her children and Win's special niece, Kay Roth, cared for her there until she died.
She is survived by her children: Mark (Heidi) Pengra, Bruce Pengra, Drew (Kerri) Pengra, Jill Pengra Wilson. Ken’s sons: Charles 3rd, Clifford (Brenda), Frank (Didi). Reva's boys: Pete, Lauw, and Barry (Peggy) Maas. Brother, Audley (Sheila) Hendricks, and niece Cara. She is also survived by her amazing grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by Winfield, her identical twin, Reva Maas, & Ken, her son in law, Doug Wilson, daughter, Dodie Ketchum, sister-in-law, Nadine Hendricks, and niece Cheryl.
She cherished so many friends-Sherry Kirby and Roxi, Maggie Owens, Louise Crosby, Chuck and Margaret Pedri. A special thank you to Karla Kniffin for joining our family and taking such good care of us; she loved you dearly. Also, dearly loved are Pastor Sam and Betty Thomas and members of the SDA Church.
Live Stream
Services
Visitation
10:00 AM
Celebration of Life
11:00 AM
Committal service
12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
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08/25/2024
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08/20/2024
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08/20/2024
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08/20/2024
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08/20/2024
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08/19/2024
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08/15/2024
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08/13/2024
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08/12/2024
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08/10/2024
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