Ila Mitchell

Ila Mitchell, age 91, of Summit, SD, passed away on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at the Mundwiler Funeral Home Chapel in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home and will continue one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday. Reverend Melanie Reiners will officiate the service and interment will be at Summit Cemetery in Summit, SD.

Ila Mae (Letze) Mitchell was born on August 12, 1932, at home in Summit, SD, to Alfred and Grace (Swanson) Letze. She grew up in the Summit area and attended school at Summit High School.

On August 6, 1949, Ila was united in marriage with Paul Mitchell in Webster, SD. To this union, four children were born.

While raising her children and caring for her family, Ila also owned and operated the Crossroads Café. She also worked as a cook at Whetstone Valley Nursing Home, and operated a day care out of her home over the years.

Ila was a fantastic cook and an even better baker. She would bake bread, cinnamon rolls, and cookies. Ila was famous for her meat balls and making potato salad for many community gatherings. You never left Ila’s home hungry; she would feed you and would send leftovers home with you too! Ila made a point to cook the favorite things of friends and family she expected to visit her. She was an avid crocheter and several of her family members have multiple blankets she crocheted over the years. Ila’s family was most important to her, and she looked forward to Sunday family dinners and celebrating holidays and family birthdays. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her greatest joy and she enjoyed each and every baby that came her way.

Left to cherish Ila’s memory are her children: Irene (David) Pies of Aberdeen SD; Joann Schmeling of Prairie Village, KS; and Paula Ellsworth of Clearwater, FL; six grandchildren: Russell Pies, John Pies, Calvin Pies, Becky Morgan, Travis Schmeling, and Benjamin Ellsworth; nine great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Ronald Aker of Watertown, SD; sisters-in-law: Lois Cotten of Watertown, SD; and Janice Letze of Milbank, SD; along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents; husband, Paul in 1986; son, Dennis in 2005; grandson, Brad Ellsworth in 2022; sisters: Jane Aker and Cora Sorensen; brothers: Dale Letze and Wilbur Letze; son-in-law, David Schmeling; daughter-in-law, Geri Mitchell; along with several other family members.