CASTLEWOOD - Mary Elizabeth Raasch, 93, Castlewood, died Saturday, March 16, 2002, at a Castlewood assisted living center.
Funeral services will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church in Castlewood with the Rev. Terry Drew officiating.
Burial will be in the Castlewood Cemetery.
Visitation will be today (Monday) from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Geise Funeral Chapel in Castlewood.
Mary Raasch, daughter of W.H.R. and Annie (Jardine) Ching, was born the eldest of nine children Feb. 7, 1909, at Aroya, Colo.
She married Earl Raasch June 25, 1931, at her father's farm. Mr. Raasch died May 30, 1999.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Donna of Castlewood and Richard and Connie of Fargo, N.D.; a daughter and son-in-law, Marjorie and Harold Poppen of Brookings; 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; six step great-grandchildren; four step great-greatgrandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Melvin and Hazel Ching of Watertown and Wilbur and Wilma Ching of Castlewood; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Helen Brooks of Watertown, Lois Goldhorn of Castlewood and Marggie and Clem Sonntag of Janesville, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Eva Ching of Watertown and Dottie Ching of Castlewood and a brother-in-law, Ernest and wife Marilyn Olson of Watertown.

Mary Elizabeth (Ching) Raasch, daughter of WHR and Annie (Jardine) Ching was born the eldest of nine children on February 7, 1909 at Aroya, Colorado. When she was three years old her family moved to South Dakota and Mary attended rural school near Castlewood and graduated from Castlewood High School. She then attended South Dakota State University and worked as a secretary at the Castlewood Creamery and also as a bookeeper for an auto dealer in Watertown. After her marriage to Earl Raasch on June 25, 1931, at the WHR Ching farm, they farmed near Castlewood. In 1981, they had the pleasure of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and having thier farm become a Century Farm. After Earl’s death on May 30, 1999. Mary moved into Castlewood. She died on Saturday March 16, 2002, at the Castlewood Assisted Living Center at the age of 93 years, 1 month and 9 days.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church where she served as the first woman elder, was a member of the Circle and Presbyterian Women, and also served as a Sunday School teacher and children’s choir director for many years. Mary also a charter member of the Pleasant Valley Club was a 50 year member of the Eastern Star, where she was Past Worthy Matron and an early 4-H leader. She enjoyed gardeniing, crocheting and loved to play the piano.
Grateful for having shared her life are two sons, Robert and his wife Donna of Castlewood, Richard and his wife Connie of Fargo ND and one daughter, Marjorie Poppen and her husband Harold of Brookings SD. 11 grandchildren’ 18 great grandchildr3en, one great great grandchild, six step great grandchildren; four step great, great grandchildren; two brothers, Melvin Ching and his wife Hazel of Watertown, Wilbur Ching and his wife Wilma of Castlewood; three sisters, Helen Brooks of Watertown, Lois Goldhorn of Castlewood, Marggie Sontag and her husband Clem of Janesville, WI; tow sisters in law, Eva Ching of Watertown, Dottie Ching of Castlewood, one brother in law, Ernest Olson and his wife Marilyn of Watertown and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Earl; her parents; one great granddaughter, Corrie Raasch; two brothers, Howard and Hugh; and one sister Phyllis.