Erna Zeeb

Erna Zeeb went to her eternal home on August 25, 2026, at the age of 99 years. She was the daughter of Emil Ott and Emilie (Reimert) Ott and was born on May 31, 1927. She was the youngest of nine children. On September 9, 1945, Erna married Raymond Zeeb, and they began married life living on a farm southwest of Menno, South Dakota, but later moved to California near Bakersfield until earthquakes in the area convinced them to move back to South Dakota. While living in California, Erna and Ray had a daughter, Glenda, on May 21, 1949, and after returning to South Dakota, their son, James, was born on May 21, 1954. 

Erna was a farm wife and homemaker until she and Ray purchased a grocery store in Olivet, South Dakota, in 1965. She took up the challenge of running Ray’s Market, ordering merchandise, and waiting on customers, until Ray became county sheriff in 1974. This began another chapter in her life as dispatcher for the Hutchinson County Sheriff’s Office. She was on call day and night but found the work to be rewarding. When Ray retired in 1994, she once again enjoyed being a homemaker and mowing her lawn.

Erna is survived by her son and daughter. She was predeceased by all of her brothers and sisters and all of her brothers in-law and sisters in-law. She had a life well-lived and will be greatly missed by her children.