Elsie Jeanne Marie Pietila was born at Rapid City Regional Hospital, baptized by her father, James H. Pietila, and went home to God. She is survived by her parents, Provatia (Potvin) Pietila and James Pietila, and one brother, Louis Alexander Pietila, all of Belle Fourche, SD; aunt, Letitia (Potvin) Pietila, uncle, Martin Fashbaugh and daughter, Lucy Fashbaugh, all of Belle Fourche, SD; uncle, Damian Potvin and Rachel Baghelai of Crystal Lake, IL; aunt, Christina Pietila of Fargo, ND; aunt, Rachael Pietila, and uncle, Nick Hill, and son, Aidan Pietila, and daughter, Sylvia Hill, all of Menagha, MN; aunt, Melissa Pietila of Menahga, MN; grandparents, Jerome Pietila and Marie (Hallikainen) Pietila of Menahga, MN, Portia (Dannenbring Potvin) Larsen and Curt Larsen of Arlington, SD, David Potvin and Michael Kriska of Las Vegas, NV; and great-grandmother, Ellen (Johnson) Hallikainen of Park Rapids, MN.

Her name is rich in meaning. Elsie is a form of Elizabeth, after St. Elizabeth, cousin of Mary the Mother of God. Jeanne is a form of Joan, after St. Joan of Arc. Marie is a form of Mary, Mother of God. Elsie is named after James' great aunt, Elsie. Elsie, an energetic 80 years young, had a genuine warmth and always made everyone in her presence feel special and important. Baby Elsie was also energetic in the womb. Jeanne (Durand Potvin) Georgen is Provatia's grandmother. She was a woman of immense faith, hope, and resiliency. Marie (Hallikainen) Pietila, James' mother, has a plethora of artistic and culinary talents not yet known to the world.

Entombment at a later date will take place at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, La Crosse, Wisconsin, at their Memorial of the Unborn.

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