Obituary of Ione Catherine Schulte

Iona Catherine (Miller) Schulte, age 101, passed away on August 26, 2020, in Edina, Minnesota, where she had lived the past several years at Heritage of Edina assisted living community.

Iona, the daughter of Frank and Carrie (Fritz) Miller, was born March 17, 1919, at Parker, South Dakota.  When she was a small child her family moved to Gary, South Dakota, where she attended public school.  She loved school, especially playing her violin in the state champion Gary High School orchestra.  Iona graduated during the depression and there was no money for college, so she was trained to operate the switchboard at the Gary telephone exchange.  For several years she was employed in Gary and Clear Lake, and with Bell Telephone in Minneapolis, as a switchboard operator.

Iona married Harry E. Schulte on February 28, 1949.  They farmed near Gary for several years and had three children, Barbara, Susan, and James.  They moved to Bradenton, Florida, where they lived for eight years, and in 1963 they returned to Gary, where Iona and Harry owned and ran the hardware store for several years.  After that Iona worked as an ICAP Community Services worker for Deuel County for 18 years before retiring.

During their retirement years, Iona and Harry enjoyed visits from their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, spending time with friends and relatives, traveling, gardening, and watching the many types of birds at the bird feeders they had in their yard.  Iona was a member of St. Peter’s Altar Society and the Gary Historical Society and volunteered at the museum.  She also enjoyed playing cards with friends in the canasta group that met every week.  Iona was known as an excellent cook and baker, and people would request her carrot cake and other specialties for gatherings.

Survivors include her children, Barbara Thurman, Susan Schulte, and James Schulte; her three grandchildren, Gabrielle (Christian) Seeley, Genevieve (Joshua) Summers, and Eve Schulte (Sam Feipel); her two great-grandsons, Samuel and Gryphon; her sister-in-law Irene (James) Miller; and her many nephews and nieces and their children.

Iona was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry, and her five brothers and sisters:  Armetha Keimig, Mary Ann Goblirsch, Francis “Pat” Miller, Aloysius “Tookie” Miller, and James Miller.

Due to the concerns about COVID-19, there will be a private Catholic service on September 10 at the Edina Chapel of The Minnesota Cremation Society.  A burial service at the Grandview Cemetery in Gary, South Dakota, will take place at a later date, also due to COVID.  In lieu of flowers, we would like you to make donations to a charity, church, or organization of your choice.