Alitha M. Pollman

Alitha M. Pollman, age 92, of Menno, SD passed away at the Dow-Rummel Village, Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at Grace Lutheran Church, Menno, SD with Rev. Theresa Jacobson officiating. Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery, Menno, SD. Visitations will be 5 to 8 PM, Tuesday, at the Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, with a Scripture service at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.

Alitha was born on January 21, 1921 in Wittenberg Township, Hutchinson County, South Dakota to Walter and Louise (Huber) Knittel. She attended Roosevelt District 36 grade school and graduated from Menno High School in 1938.

During summer months, she did housekeeping for several families and then worked at the local Gamble's Store for John Hellwig. After the sale of the Gamble's Store, she worked for Russell Parks Drug Store. On October 4, 1940, she married Jacob S. Pollman with whom she had four children.

In 1943, she joined her husband who had been drafted into the US Army and was stationed in Amarillo, Texas. After her husband was sent overseas, she and daughter, Lonna returned to Menno. She then worked at the Menno Bakery for Reiny Frasch and later for LuVern Mettler. She also did rug weaving at home. She was then asked to work as a cook at the Mobil Gas Cafe owned by Duane Bartling and later Oscar Pfiefle. During this time, she also began work at the Menno Livestock office on sale days. In April of 1966, she was hired at the Menno Farmers Union Coop as Assistant Bookkeeper and remained there until 2000 when she began part time work at Country Pride until her retirement.

Alitha was a grateful member of AL-ANON for some 35 years. She held offices at Menno Grace Lutheran Church where she was baptized and confirmed and was a life time member. She also served as church secretary for several years.

She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Louise (Huber) Knittel, her infant daughter, Lonnie Gay, husband, Jacob Pollman, and sisters, Janice Buehner and Wilma Liebel.