Ethyl was born at
King, Cherry County, Nebraska, USA, on November 4, 1907. She was the daughter of
Jess Alexander Speck and
Mary Schwaberow. She resided at
Custer Co., South Dakota, USA, after 1920. She married
Christ Heinrich in 1930. Ethyl Speck died on February 13, 2009 at age 101; Ethel Heinrich
Nov 04 1907 - Feb 13 2009
Ethel Heinrich of Rapid City and formerly of rural Custer, died Fri., Feb. 13, 2009 at a local nursing home at 101 years old.
Ethel Speck was born in Cherry County near King, Nebraska in 1907 to Jess and Mary Speck. She was raised with five sisters and one brother. Her younger years were spent in the Gordon, Nebraska area. As she grew older, the family moved further north and lived in the Shannon County area of South Dakota.
Ethel was an avid equestrienne-horsewoman at heart. She loved breaking and riding horses, especially her favorite horse, Tom Thumb. She rode herd on a Matador ranch with her Dad and broke horses. Of course life wasn’t just fun riding horses. She drove teams of horses and mules that pulled buckboards, wagons, haying and farming equipment.
In 1930 she married Chris Heinrich. They farmed and ranched on Quinn Table, south and west of Wall during the 30’s and 40’s, where they raised two daughters. In 1950, they moved west of Custer, where they lived for over 50 years. Ethel moved to Rapid City at the age of 97 to be closer to immediate family. She and her brother-in-law, Larry Heinrich celebrated their 98th and 99th birthdays together.
She is survived by one daughter, Ramona (Bill) Morrison of Quartzsite, Arizona; nine grandchildren, Donnie (Bert) Morrison of Kila, MT, Sherry (Howard) Savage of Pflugerville, TX, Sandi (Larry) Conrad of Tacoma, WA, Wayne (Jodi) Larsen of Chugwater, WY, Mark (Amy) Larsen of Victorville, CA, David (Mervina) Larsen, Carol (Don) Bradeen, Lena (Dale) Grimm, Larry (Bev) Larsen, all of Rapid City; 18 great grandchildren and 23 great great grandchildren.
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Chris, one daughter, Jean Larsen Lyman, her parents and siblings.
Ethel was a very private person. She requested cremation with no services, but to be in your thoughts and prayers. She will be missed by her family and friends.
Friends may sign Ethel’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com. Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City is in charge of the arrangements. http://www.kirkfuneralhome.com/index.php?option=com_obituary&task=details&oid=1614.