Elaine Hantz

Elaine Hantz age 74 of Belle Fourche, and formerly Lemmon, died unexpectedly Tuesday February 1st, 2011 at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City. Funeral services will be held 11am Saturday February 5th, 2011 at the Christian Life Center in Belle Fourche, with Pastor Paul Howard and Pastor James Hantz officiating. Visitation will be held 5 to 7pm Friday at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche. Elaine A. Johnson was born August 30, 1936 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Walter and Alice (Josephson) Johnson. Elaine lived her early years in Minnesota, North Dakota, Washington, Montana, and South Dakota. In 1954 she graduated from the Belle Fourche High School. In 1955 she was united in marriage to her high school classmate, Jerry Hantz and joined him in his Air Force Assignment for 3 years in Wiesbaden, Germany. During this time, Elaine worked as a civil service secretary stenographer. In 1959, Jerry died from injuries suffered in an industrial accident in Colony, WY. In 1960, Elaine was united in marriage to Jack Hantz. They lived in various places throughout South Dakota due to Jack’s law enforcement career. During their marriage, Elaine worked as a business manager for the LIVE Center in Lemmon, and she worked for the Faith and Dupree school districts. While they lived in Kalispell Montana, Elaine worked at Norwest Bank for 5 years. Elaine enjoyed over 50 years of league bowling and she participated in many state and national tournaments. She was past president in the SD State Peace Officers Auxiliary and she also participated in many pistol shooting tournaments. Elaine and Jack traveled extensively in recent years, beginning with a cruise to the Grand Island in the Bahamas in 1995, followed by the 1957 high school class reunion Royal Caribbean Cruise in 1997. In 1998 her and Jack flew to Hawaii for a tour of Pearl Harbor and the military sites near Waikiki Beach. They also enjoyed a tour of the World War II battle sites of Normandy Beaches, and other places in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, including the location of the Battle of the Bulge. During Jack’s law enforcement career, she served as his dispatcher and many times feared for her husband’s life. She was his partner and friend. Elaine was a loving mother, grandmother, and wife. She will be missed greatly. Elaine is survived by her husband of 51 years, Jack of Belle Fourche; son, James (Esther) Hantz of Augusta, MT; daughters, Jerrianne Wallace of Crystal City MO, Laurie (Morgan) Berg of Lemmon SD; 8 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; brother, Herbert (Mary) Johnson of Tukwila WA; sisters, Esther (Marlan) McCrady of Las Vegas NV, Ardis (Bob) Leu of Spokane WA, Norma Jean Ayala of Cheyenne WY, and Lyla Sharp of Sequim, WA.   DATE OF BIRTH August 30, 1936 – Thief River Falls, MN DATE OF DEATH February 1, 2011 – Rapid City, South Dakota FUNERAL SERVICE 11:00 A.M. – Saturday – February 5th, 2011 Christian Life Center Belle Fourche, South Dakota OFFICIANTS Pastors Paul Howard and James Hantz MUSIC Pianist – Judy Howard “Jesus Loves Me”, “Because He Lives”, Amazing Grace” HONORARY CASKETBEARERS Belle Fourche High School Class of 1954 and 1957 ACTIVE CASKETBEARERS Morgan Berg                                                             David Hantz Warren Berg                                                              Tyler Hantz Ronnie Franke        Tommy Thompson     Jacob Wallace INTERMENT Pine Slope Cemetery Belle Fourche, South Dakota