Onalee House Larsen  1907-1998

 Funeral services for Onalee L. Larsen, 90, Chamberlain, were held Monday, July 13, 1998 at Zion Lutheran Church, Chamberlain with the Reverend L. I. Geyer officiating.  Mrs. Larsen passed away Thursday, July 9, 1998, at Sunset Valley Nursing Home, Chamberlain.

Onalee Loretta House was born Oct. 10, 1907 in Reliance to parents Charles and Mary (Watson) House.  She spent her early years in the Reliance area.

She graduated from Reliance High School in 1927.  She attended Normaal School in Mitchell for a short time but was forced by health reasons to quit.  She then helped out at her parents' home with her brothers and sisters,  She also worked in private homes around Reliance and Lower Brule.

Onalee met Albert Clarence Larsen at a school house dance and they were married January 3, 1930 in Winner, SD.  They lived on a farm near Hamill.  In 1946, they purchased a farm southeast of Reliance.  Onalee continued to reside on the farm after Albert's death in 1967.  She remained there until 1985, when she moved to an apartment in Chamberlain.  In 1992, Onalee moved to Sunset Valley Haven Nursing Home.

Onalee loved music and dancing. Her home was always open to visitors and the coffee pot was always on, with something good from the oven.  Many friends and relatives enjoyed her home and hospitality as she was continually serving others.  Her garden and flowers gave her great pleasure that she shared with family and friends.  

She was a member of The Zion Lutheran Church.  She was active in the LWML, Esther Circle, Hospital Auxillary and the Happy Hour Neighborhood Club of Reliance.  She was a sweet caring person as remembered by all.

Onalee is survived by one son, Dean Larsen and wife Gertrude of Reliance; three daughters: Marian Truman and husband Elwood of Canton, Alta Cable and husband Frank of Chamberlain, and Mavis Hansen and Richard of Reliance; two sisters, Mae Wolcott of Phoenix, AZ., and Letha Moore of Phoenix; two brothers: Raymond House of Slayton, MN., and  Donald House of Phoenix; one half brother, Alden House of Rapid City, two sisters-in-law, Helen Goodman of Chamberlain and Margaret Groener of Winner; 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Onalee was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (Dec. 1967), a brother, Kenneth, a grandson, a half-brother, Darrell, and a sister, Ruth Logalis.

Burial was in Riverview Cemetery, Chamberlain.

Wevik Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.