Catherine Tifft, age 94, of Owanka, South Dakota, died on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at her home in Owanka.
A celebration of life service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 24, at the Wicksville Community Church.
Private family interment will be held at a later date at the Lakeside Cemetery in Owanka.
Catherine Rose Ingalls was born December 11, 1928 to Walter and Francis (Welter) Ingalls in Rapid City, South Dakota. She grew up in the Opal, South Dakota area and attended school at the Royal Center School. Catherine then attended high school at Sturgis High School and graduated in 1946. She then studied at Black Hill’s Teacher’s College attaining her degree in education. She taught and was also a fill in substitute teacher for many years at the Lakeside and Elm Springs Schools.
She was united in marriage to Kenneth D. Tifft on December 21, 1946 in Deadwood, South Dakota, and to this union was born a son, Tucky. Catherine and Kenneth ranched near Union Center until 1950, when they moved to Missouri to farm and ranch. Four years later, they moved back to South Dakota where they lived in various places before moving to their present location in the Owanka Community in 1959. They ranched and ran a dairy farm for 46 years.
Catherine was a member of the Wicksville Workers Club where she was a Historian for most of her life. She was also an avid reader and very talented seamstress sewing Western shirts and embroidering a variety of items for many people. Catherine also enjoyed gardening and spending time tending to her plants and flowers.
Survivors include son Tucky (Linda) Tifft of Owanka; three grandchildren: Kale (Misty) Tifft, Kristy (Roberto) Vega, and Kevin (Rhonda) Tifft; six great-grandchildren: Kara, Katherine “Katie”, Shilo, Nicolas “Nico”, Scarlett, and Morgan; brother Marlin Ingalls; two sisters Faye Fees and Ann Mahaffy; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth on March 7, 2006; her parents Walter and Francis Ingalls; and brother Howard Ingalls.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.
