Ethel Buchholz, 98 of Spearfish passed away Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care Center.

Funeral Services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, October 4, 2010 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Ethel was born on January 21, 1912 to Walter and Christine (Christofferson) Stalley in Pierre, SD and grew up in Haakon County. After attending rural school near the family ranch, Ethel and her younger sister were sent to High School in Pierre but disliked it so much they walked for 2 days to get back to the family farm in Haakon County. Ethel married Leo Buchholz on October 31, 1931 and to this union four children were born. During World War II they traveled to many military bases doing construction as Leo was a catskinner. In 1947 they moved to Rockerville where they owned a ranch. In 1949 they sold the ranch and moved their family to Spearfish where she has resided since. In the mid 1950's they owned and operated the Main Street Hardware Store in Spearfish. After selling the store she worked in Bell's open air market for several years before retiring. She remained in her home until July of 2009 when she moved to the Belle Fourche Regional Care Center after breaking her hip in a fall.

Survivors include two sons, Walter and William (Beverly) Buchholz, daughter, Aletha Gauze all of Spearfish; thirteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo; son Charles; daughter-in-law Linda Buchholz; son-in-law Jim Gauze; three grandchildren; two great grandsons; two brothers and three sisters