Laura E. Grubl, 93, Sturgis, died Thursday, July 3, 2008 at the Lippold Hospice Suite in the Sturgis Regional Health Care Center.

Visitation will be noon until 9 p.m. on Sunday with a rosary beginning at 5 p.m. at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 2 p.m. Monday, July 7th at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Burial follows at the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to St. Aloysius Cemetery, St. Martin's Chapel and the Meade County Senior Center.

Laura was born at Volunteer, SD, on October 16, 1914 to George W. And Evalyn (Speer) Thein the youngest of seven children. She was married to Carl J. Grubl on November 27, 1930 at Bear Butte, SD.

Laura and Carl ranched on Alkali from the "Dirty Thirties" until they retired and moved to Sturgis in the fall of 1983.

Laura was a very active member of the community. She was a 4H Leader for over ten years, a charter member of the Alkali Busy Bee Extension Club that was organized in 1935, Alkali Community Club, Sturgis Hospital Auxiliary, Western Dakota Antique Club, Sturgis Senior Center, Black Hills Corral of Westerners, Butte County Historical Society, Arts Group at Senior Center, Past President of the Sturgis AARP Chapter, Past President and District I Counselor for the Sturgis Hospital Auxiliary and President at the time the Scholarship Program was set up to educate future health care personnel that would in turn benefit the Sturgis Health Care Facility and continued service on the Scholarship Board from 1966 to the present time.

Laura was the first employed director of the Meade County Senior Center and held this position from 1985 through 1989. She was County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Historian, Clothing Project Leader, Mental Health Project Leader for the Meade County Extension Clubs serving on many committees and also was an avid participant in compiling the Northwest Meade County History Book.

Laura is survived by her son Larry Grubl, Sturgis; daughters, Margery Haberman, Mesa, AZ, Betty Wells, Sturgis; 16 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Carl, daughter in law, Jerilyn Grubl, son in law, George Wells, great grandsons AJ Frey and Lee Lehrkamp; parents; brothers, George, Earl and Clarence Thein; sisters, Agnes May, Clara Bachand and Ida Murray.