Etta was born August 17, 1929, in Miller, SD, to Anton and Rose (Brueggeman) Schaefer.

Etta grew up on the family farm near Polo, SD, and graduated from St. Liborius High School in 1947. After graduation she married Norman Eschenbaum of Orient, SD, on August 28, 1950, at Miller, SD.

When her husband returned from the Korean War in 1953, they moved to Fargo, ND, where Norman attended auto body school. In 1954, they moved to Miller where she and her husband owned and operated Norm's Body Shop for 20 years. In 1974, Etta and her husband moved briefly to Colorado returning to Rapid City, SD, and finally in Sturgis since 2005.

Etta loved her yard and garden and spent many long hours making them beautiful. She and her family also loved to fish and made many trips to many locations on the Missouri River and trout fishing in the Black Hills. No one could get enough of the smoked trout. Etta also enjoyed having the grandkids stay in the summers which always seemed too short and to go by too fast.

Esther "Etta" Jane Eschenbaum died Friday, September 9, 2016, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center with her family at her side.

Etta is survived by her husband of 66 years, Norman; one daughter, Judy (Bruce) Homan, Gillette, WY; two grandchildren, Patrick Homan, Gillette, WY, and Stephanie Homan, Fairbanks, AK; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five older sisters; Eva Riner, Catherine Oligmueller, Madlyn Pilch, Blanche Houck, and Marge Schaefer; two nieces; and one nephew.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral chapel on Wednesday.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial to the Sturgis Regional Long Term Care Center.

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