Elsie (Liebelt) Wohl came into this world on March 18, 1922 in Lowry, SD to parents Woldemar (Walt) and Magdalena (Bieber) Liebelt. She was baptized in Lowry in June of 1922 and later confirmed in Selby, SD.

Being the oldest took on great significance after Elsie’s mom died when Elsie was a child. There was a need for someone to be put in charge and Elsie embraced that role for the rest of her life. She was lovingly referred to as “Elsie Boss” by her family for much of her 102 years.

Elsie and her family moved to a farm near McLaughlin, SD in 1929. She spent many happy days with Liebelt cousins near Isabel. Elsie attended school in McLaughlin, graduating in 1940. While in high school, Elsie started a career in waitressing/food service that would last decades. She LOVED it and people loved her. Her wit and robust laugh drew people to her and if she could have physically been able to waitress two weeks ago, she probably would have. She loved being around people, hearing and telling stories. Over the years, she worked at Em’s Café, Freda’s Café and Martha’s Café in McLaughlin. She worked hard all her life, taking time out for fun as well. If she got wind there was a dance in the tri-state area, she would be negotiating for a ride. Word has it that on one occasion, she’d caught a ride to Mobridge and wasn’t ready to go home when her ride left. She stayed to dance and hopped the train home. In the wee hours of the morning when Dave Babbit was heading to work, he saw Elsie jumping off the train as it went through McLaughlin. That earned her the nickname “Caboose”.

Elsie’s love of her country started at a young age. Her Dad served during World War I and her husband Elmer whom she married in June of 1948, served during World War II. Elsie and her friends would go to the train depot to greet and/or just wave to soldiers that were traveling through on the railroad. She wrote many, many letters to men stationed overseas and was very active in American Legion Auxiliary and VFW throughout her life. She served on the election board, was active in Women of the Moose, Senior Citizens and Women’s Fellowship at United Congregational Church in Mobridge, SD of which she was a member. For years she participated in any whist tournament that would have her. There were plenty of card games where Orand and Elmer played against Elsie and Ruth. Not all were played with integrity and Elsie was quite proud when she was able to pull the wool over “Wohlies” eyes. She’d laugh until she had tears in her own. Prior to her move to Mitchell to live with niece Karmen (and Tim) McCain in February of 2022, you could find Elsie drumming up players for a card game at Prairie Sunset Village. While in Mitchell she frequently requested knoeffla soup and kuchen. Anyone she came into contact with was asked whether they were German. As recently as the end of September she was singing songs in German thanks to Spotify and a portable speaker.

Elsie was cooking and cleaning for her dad and younger siblings Viola/Beatrice, Orand and DeLaine at a tender age. She was amazing at both and many far and wide have benefitted over the years from her cooking and recipes. After moving to Snoqualmie Falls, WA, closer to Elmer’s family, she worked at Snoqualmie Lodge, learning how to “pour honey from the sky” and serve five-course meals. It was about this time that her dad married Hannah Olson and Walter James (Jimmie), Janice and “Ronnie Ray” were born. Elmer and Elsie returned to McLaughlin and purchased Ida’s Place, renaming it Elsie’s Place. Their specialties were homemade foods and Elsie was able to gab with all who came in to enjoy the soda fountain. Elmer seemed to enjoy the beer drinkers more :O). In 1955, they moved to Mobridge and bought the Bowl Arena Lunch Counter. Brother Orand’s daughters spent many weekends in Mobridge with Elsie and Elmer, taking full advantage of keys to the pop machine and limitless french fries. Many of the girls’ friends spent weekends there as well and came to know and love Elsie and Elmer. After Elsie and Elmer bought the MoRest Motel, Elsie earned yet another nickname from her sister Delaine and Dave Olson’s children. They dubbed her “Bleach Freak” as she had the cleanest, whitest towels and wash rags this side of the Mississippi.

Owning a motel doesn’t lend itself well to being away from home and Elsie bought a mynah bird to keep her company. Joe was a legend in Mobridge, sounding exactly like Elsie. He did create some problems while perched in his cage on top of the pop machine at the motel, he whistled at some young ladies and they thought it was Elmer and also when he talked back to a police officer somewhere in Montana that had pulled Elmer and Elsie over for speeding. Elmer wasn’t as fond of Joe as Elsie and he gave him away to someone in Aberdeen. Elsie figured out who it was and went and got him back. Joe lived out his days in Mobridge at the Arcade. By then the motel had been sold and Elsie was waitressing at the Arcade while Joe was whistling. Elsie also worked at the Wheel, Dakota Country, Great Plains and would help her very dear friend Rick Christman with his community dinners.

In 2022 when Elsie started needing more support and care, she moved to Mitchell to live with niece Karmen and Tim. When driving into Mitchell she looked around, wrinkled up her nose and asked “who would live in this God-forsaken place?”. We didn’t call attention to the fact that she now would. She loved Mobridge to her core. Last year when taking a trip to go to lunch at Rick’s, when we drove past the Rodeo Grounds, she sighed and said, “isn’t this beautiful”. It is beautiful Elsie and so were you. Clever and witty to the end, we love you beyond measure.

So thankful for being able to share in her abundant life are her brother Ron (Carol) Liebelt; sister-in-law Ruth Liebelt; nieces Margie (John deceased), Karmen (Tim), Kathy (Jeff), Sue (Leighton), Patty, very special niece Jennifer Jo and their families; nephews Dave (Margaret), Doug (Patti) and their families in addition to many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer, parents Walt and Magdalena Liebelt, brothers Orand, Jimmie, sisters Alma (in infancy), Viola, DeLaine and Janice.

Visitation will be held Friday, November 15th, 2024 at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge, SD starting at 5:00 pm with prayer service beginning at 6:30. Funeral Service is scheduled for 10:30 am at United Congregational Church in Mobridge on Saturday, November 16th. Elsie will be laid to rest beside Elmer at Black Hills National Cemetery, Monday, November 18, 2024 at 9:30 am.

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