Inga Birkeland

** To view Video Tribute, clilck web link above ** Inga Birkeland, age 98 of Dupree, died Tuesday December 13, 2011 at the Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care Center. The funeral service will be held 11am Saturday December 17th, 2011 at the United Church of Christ in Dupree, with Rev. Pauline Webb officiating. Visitation will be held Friday with the family present from 5pm to 7pm at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Interment will be held in the Dupree Cemetery. Inga Olson was born December 28, 1912 the daughter of Ole F. and Myrtle (Thomas) Olson near Lantry, SD. She was delivered by her Grandmother at home. Inga’s parents moved back to North Dakota where Inga graduated from Portland, ND high school. Her granddaughters remember her telling them she was a basketball player. After graduation she moved to South Dakota in the Dupree-Lantry area where she met the love of her life, Clifton Birkeland. They were married on November 17, 1934 and to this union were born 6 children. Cliff and Inga ranched and farmed all their married life raising a great herd of Black Angus cattle, a tradition that was passed on to their children. Inga was a remarkable woman and the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman. She always raised chickens, canned meat and vegetables and fed all who came near her house whether it was for a cup of coffee and one of her amazing cookies, or the divine chocolate cake with hot frosting, or a full blown meal. Mom could feed 4 or 40 at any given notice and they all went away full. One of her grandsons said when Grandma cracked the cellar-door, she was going after canned meat to stretch the meal. She was amazing in the fact she never hollered at her children, was kind gentle and loving yet she never raised her voice. She loved to be outside and so enjoyed going with Ken to look at the baby calves or go for a drive to see the crops and freshly mown hay. She was called Hank the Hired hand by her Dad because she helped him with horses working in the fields. Inga was a lady in every aspect of the word, kind and gentle, classy, sweet yet assertive. She never spoke badly of anyone, but may tell them if she thought they were getting a bit chubby. Mom made the best cookies ever. She made cookies every grandchild still slobbers for. She was just the BEST. Inga had 2 open heart surgeries, which forced she and Clifton to move from the ranch into Dupree to a new home their son Russell and grandson Clint built in 1992. She resided there after Clifton’s death in 1996 and in 2005 moved to Spearfish to Edgewood Vista Assisted living, a place that she loved so much and was so well cared for. Due to a decline in her health the necessity arose that she needed full time care, thus the move to Belle Fourche Healthcare Center in May of 2011. She was loved and so graciously cared for by the wonderful staff there. Mom went to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning at around 9:00 a.m. what a glorious day for her stepping from this life to her life at her true home. Inga is survived by her daughters Fern Meyer of Edgewater, Florida, Cathy (Melvin) Eaton of Belle Fourche, and 4 sons, Russell (Beverly) Birkeland, Gary (Sonja) Birkeland, John (Rita)Birkeland, Ken (Karen) Birkeland all of Dupree, Her sister, Vivian Thomas of Rapid City, Sister-in-law Susan Birkeland of Spearfish and Bud Longbrake, whom Cliff and Inga always called their 5th son, and grand-children Eric (Shelly) Meyer, Patricia (Troy) Agee, David (Sherri) Meyer, Clint (Lee Anne) Birkeland, Doug (Melody) Birkeland, Jay Birkeland, Ramon (Robbie) Birkeland, Kelly (Kevin) Keegan, Monni Birkeland (John Cooper) and Clayton (Mindy) Birkeland, Kristy Jeffries Hertel, Jenny Jeffries, Cody Birkeland, Brady Birkeland, Marty (Kurt) Leibel, Jaime (Jason) Fearing and Wayne (Tessa) Eaton and 31 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters Marion Rimestad, Ruby Gray, Eleanor Weaver; and brothers Vernon Olson, Tommy Olson, and Ole F. Olson Junior . Inga was incredibly loved by her family and touched the lives of all who knew her. She was one of a kind. IN LOVING MEMORY Inga Birkeland Date of Birth December 28, 1912 - Lantry, South Dakota Date of Death December 13, 2011 – Belle Fourche, South Dakota Funeral Service 11:00 A.M. – Saturday – December 17th, 2011 United Church of Christ – Dupree, South Dakota Officiant – Pastor Pauline Webb Special Music Taylor Fearing – “Amazing Grace” Jaime Fearing – “Revelation Song”, “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” “If You Get There Before I Do” (recorded) “I Can Only Imagine” (recorded) Hymn – “How Great Thou Art” Janet Monlux, organist Casketbearers(Inga’s Grandchildren) Eric Meyer     Patricia Agee     David Meyer     Clint Birkeland Doug Birkeland   Jay Birkeland   Ramon Birkeland   Kelly Keegan    Monni Birkeland      Clayton Birkeland       Kristy Jeffries Hertel Jenny Jeffries  Cody Birkeland   Brady Birkeland   Marty Leibel Jaime Fearing    Wayne Eaton Interment Dupree Cemetery Dupree, South Dakota