Erna Dietrich, 94 of Spearfish passed away August 8 ^th , 2021 at the Garden Hills Assisted Living Facility where she had been a resident for past four plus years.  Prior to moving to Spearfish, Erna had lived many years in Mobridge, SD.

Erna was born on June 25, 1927 to Fred F and Martha Schott who homesteaded on a farm Northwest of McLaughlin, SD.  She attended primary school at the Maple Leaf Country School 3 ½ miles west of their farm, and then attended McLaughlin Public School in McLaughlin.

In 1947, Erna and Marvin Dietrich were married and made their home on a ranch south of Kenel, SD.  It was a part of the country where rural electricity and telephones had not reached.  She was a full working partner in the ranch operation.

The winter of 1949 was one of the worst in recorded time as to snowfall and severity.  Many ranches in the area were snowbound for months of time due to blocked roads and machinery of that era incapable of moving that amount of snow.  Erna was expecting their first child the first part of February, 1949.  On February 9 ^th Marvin rode 8 miles on horseback to Kenel where the nearest telephone was and requested a plane with skis to airlift Erna to the Hospital in Mobridge.  The plane arrived the morning of February 10 ^th , and she was flown out in the back seat of a Piper Cub plane; that afternoon February 10 ^th , 1949, Benita Dietrich was born.

On June 11, 1952 Max Dietrich was born completing their family.  Erna's blessing were her five grandsons who survive her.

Also, surviving Erna is daughter Benita (Duane) Banek, Spring, TX; grandsons Bryan Banek, Steven Banek, Cody (Diantha) Dietrich, Dallas Dietrich, Major Denver (Ashley) Dietrich; great-grandsons, Athen Dietrich and Dax Dietrich; sister-in-law Betty Schott Columbia Falls, MT; brother Harlan (Donna) Schott Vermillion, SD; sister Linda (Gayle) Evridge, Lemmon, SD and daughter-in-law Roxie Dietrich, Savannah, GA.

She was preceded in death of her first husband, Marvin Dietrich; second husband, Robert Johnson; son Max Dietrich who always looked after all her needs, and care; parents; sisters Anna Schott,  Thelma Keller; brothers Ray Schott and Vernon (Vernie) Schott and brother-in-law John Keller.

Private Family services will be held at a later date with inurnment in the family plot in McLaughlin.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com