Lila Van Slooten

Lila Van Slooten, age 89 of Belle Fourche, died Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the Belle Estate Senior Living Center in Belle Fourche, SD. The funeral service will be held 10am Monday, May 9, 2016 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche SD, with Hospice Chaplain Randy Bradley officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place 2pm Monday at the Holland Center Christian Reform Church Cemetery, west of Lodgepole, SD. Lila Eggebo was born Sept.10, 1926 to Ole and Phoebe (Nelson) Eggebo on their homestead near Glendo, SD. in Perkins County. Lila graduated from Hettinger High School in 1944, earned a teacher's certificate, then taught for three rural schools in Perkins County. In the summer of 1945, Lila traveled west to visit friends and relatives in Bremerton,WA. where she worked as a clerk in a Chinese American General Store. Lila was united in marriage to Ted Van Slooten on Sept.14, 1945 at the Methodist church in Bremerton. After Ted was discharged from the Navy on Sept. 25, 1945, he and Lila returned to Ted's parent's homestead near Lodgepole, SD, where they made their home, farmed, and raised sheep until Ted's death on May 1, 1997. In Oct.1997, Lila moved to Belle Fourche, SD where she resided until her death on May 4th. Lila enjoyed playing and listening to music. Gospel music was her joy. She had a special talent for preparing a feast at every meal. No one left her table hungry. Her yard, garden, and flowers were always so beautiful. She welcomed the bees and humming birds that would come within an arm's reach. She always said her garden belonged to God and that she was only the care taker. Lila loved children and her family. Her greatest love was for her Lord, Jesus Christ. Her most cherished book was God's Word, the Bible. Lila blessed so many here on earth, and has begun her new life in eternity where we are certain she will be a blessing to so many more. Lila is survived by her three children - Ronald (Sue) Van Slooten -Federal Way, WA., Kevin Van Slooten - Hettinger, ND., Lois (Jim) Steiner - Belle Fourche, SD; grandchildren - Stoney (Jill) Kilmer - Belle Fourche, SD., Chet (Kristen) Kilmer - Spearfish, SD; great grandchildren - Desirae, Kylie, Taytum, and Cadence; two sisters - Irene Abelseth - Rapid City, SD., and Esther Palmer - Sturgis, SD; sister-In-Law - Myna Tescher - Belle Fourche, SD. Lila was preceded in death by her husband Ted, her parents, two brothers- Melvin and Johnny Eggebo, and sister - Ruth (Eggebo) Palmer. The family would like to extend special thanks to the tireless staff at Belle Estate and to the nurses, volunteers, and team of Regional Home Health and Hospice that provided such loving care and help to Lila this year. May the blessing you've been to our family be returned to you 100 fold. Date of Birth September 10, 1926 Glendo, South Dakota   Date of Death May 4, 2016 Belle Fourche, South Dakota   Funeral Service 10:00 A.M. – Monday – May 9th, 2016 Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills Belle Fourche, South Dakota   Officiant Chaplain Randy Bradley   Music “In the Garden”, “How Great Thou Art”   Casketbearers Chet Kilmer                                                       Stoney Kilmer   Inurnment Holland Center Christian Church Cemetery Lodgepole, South Dakota