Emma Bock, 98, Dickinson, died Friday, March 4, 2011 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Emma’s funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at Peace Lutheran Church, Dickinson, with Rev. Steve Schou officiating. Interment will follow at the Lebanon Lutheran Cemetery at Amidon, at a later date. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Ladbury Funeral Service.
Emma Adele Brueni was born April 15, 1912 the daughter of Emil and Marie (Schwarz) Brueni at Zenith near present day South Heart. She was raised on the family farm along with two brothers and four sisters. Following graduation from Dickinson Model High School, Emma earned her teaching certificate from Dickinson State Teachers College. She went on to teach in rural schools in both Stark and Slope County for several years.
While teaching at the school in Moord Township, Slope County she met her husband Carlyle Bock. They were married on May 7, 1939 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in New England. They established a farm and ranch north of Amidon, where she lived for 40 years until the death of her husband Carlyle in 1983, after which she retired to Dickinson. She enjoyed her retirement in Dickinson as it gave her an opportunity to connect with many of her former high school and college classmates. In later years she lived at Park Avenue Villa, Evergreen Inn and St. Benedict’s Health Center.
Emma and Carlyle were longtime members of Lebanon Lutheran Church in Amidon, and in later years, also of Victory Lutheran in Mesa, Ariz. Emma attended Peace Lutheran after her move to Dickinson. She was a member of the local homemaker’s club, served as a 4-H leader, a member of the Lebanon Lutheran Church Women, as well as other organizations.
She is survived by her four children, Warren (Kathleen) Bock, Dickinson, Marlene (James) Ketterling, Mesa, Ariz., Ronald (Judy) Bock, Dickinson, and Gerald (Valerie) Bock, Moorhead, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; Wade Bock, Kevin Bock, Timothy Bock, Nathan Ketterling, Brian Ketterling, Michael Bock, Karen Bock, Eric Bock, Loren Bock, Gretchen Bock, Lindsay Bock and Allison Bock. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren, Emma Faith Bock, Grady Bock, Tucker Bock, Matthew Bock, Collin Bock, Elyse Bock, Ellie Bock, Ashlyn Bock, McKenna Bock, Reese and Autumn Gullickson, Emma Grace Bock, and Eli Bock. She is also survived by her brother John (Eva) Brueni, South Heart, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carlyle on July 8, 1983, sisters Rose Butler, Ida Butler, Martha Hoffman, Edna Hansel and her brother Emil Brueni as well as a grandson Bradley Bock.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to Badlands Ministries, Lebanon Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church.
