Ila Ramsell Haskell, age 90, of Huron, passed away Sunday, February 25, 2018, at the SunQuest Health Care Center. Her memorial service was held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, March 1st at the First United Methodist Church. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church or the South Dakota State Fair Foundation.
Ila Baum was born August 8, 1927, to Fred Sr. and Edith Baum, on their farm south of Huron, South Dakota. Ila graduated from Huron High School in 1945. She married Paul Ramsell on November 3, 1945, at Seattle, Washington. Following Paul's discharge from the Marines, they moved back to the family farm northeast of Huron. There they raised three children and farmed together for 47 years. Her husband preceded her in death on May 18, 1992.
Ila was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was active in United Methodist Women, missions and serving weddings and funerals. She was also active in her community, belonging to Riverview Extension Club, involved in her children's 4-H Clubs, PEO Chapter F, and was also an active member for many years in the South Dakota Pork Council. Her faith and family were her top priorities.
Ila expanded her family when she married Albert "Mac" Haskell on July 27, 2005. They made their home on Mac's acreage overlooking the James River south of Huron. They moved to SunQuest Village in 2012. Mac died on November 18, 2016.
Grateful for sharing her life are her three children and their spouses, Sondra and Ronald Kimball of Sioux Falls, Scott and Catherine Ramsell and Douglas and Jane Ramsell, who continue to live on the family farm northeast of Huron; Mac's two children and their families, Tom and Sharon Haskell of Hamden, Connecticut and Winifred "Wink" Heller of Arlington Heights, Illinois; eight granddaughters, twelve great-grandchildren; several nephews and nieces; and her sister-in-law, Betty Fuehrer.
Ila's parents; two brothers, Fred Baum, Jr. and Warren Baum; and her sister, Eva Belle Schnetzer also preceded her in death.