Eula Pearle (Jenkins) Cole passed away peacefully in her home at Wewela, South Dakota with family around her on Friday morning Sept. 8, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer. She looked forward to meeting her Savior Jesus Christ and a host of friends and family who have gone on before.
Eula was born on June 28, 1928 to Milton Frederick and Hattie Pearl (Wilson) Jenkins near Ulman, Missouri, the fifth of seven children. Eula married Frank Boyce Cole on Dec. 19, 1943 in her parents home near Brays, Missouri. They moved to Fremont, Nebraska after their marriage and she worked at the Walkers Ammunition Plant where she became an inspector, while Frank worked for the railroad. They then moved to a ranch in Pahapesto Township of Tripp County and one in Todd County near Carter, South Dakota, before Frank bought the Wewela General Store in 1951.
Eula was a hard worker, but also somewhat of a dreamer. She enjoyed planning her gardens, gardening, canning, cooking, hanging clothes out to dry, horseback riding, making children clothes, and embroidering, and quilting in later years. She also loved to read books and study her Bible daily.
Eula was always ready to help in any way she could whether it was haying, milking the cows or other ranch work, working at the Wewela Post Office, Port of Entry, fixing and serving meals, or doing something involving children. She made popsicles, a favorite treat for her grandchildren and their parents, on summer days.
Eula was a 43 year member of the Winner Assembly of God Church. She especially enjoyed teaching Sunday School for many of those years, lovingly known as “Grandma” to all the children she served. She enjoyed music, loved singing, and sang while she worked. The kids loved to hear her sing and yodel, until her voice wouldn’t allow it anymore.
Faith and family were the most important things to Eula. Each of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were very special to her. She loved sharing about Jesus with them, playing games, and sharing God’s handiwork by pointing out the beautiful displays of the land, sky, and nature that God created as they took walks and visited.
Eula loved life, was very generous and thoughtful, thinking of others first. She hand-made beautiful baby quilts for almost every grandchild and great grandchild. She loved to have family and friends stop in to visit, always offering a cup of coffee and whatever baked goods she had on hand. When the children were young the neighbor kids came home with them after school to get some of her fresh baked bread with butter. This was considered a real treat. You were blessed with a wonderful meal that she would prepare, if you could stay to eat,
Eula will be missed by many. She left us all with a great legacy and a high standard of living. She made an important decision to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior at age 13, and loved the Lord with all her heart, soul, and mind. She deeply loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They knew this because she told them often and demonstrated it with her actions. All who loved and knew her will grieve and miss her, yet will rejoice for we know God rewards those who are faithful. To quote Eula, “I have been truly blessed by the Lord. I have been blessed.”
She is survived by her eight children: Sharon Cole, Karen (Milton) Douglas, and Juanita (Richard) Peterson, all of Wewela; David (Colleen) Cole, Sioux Falls; Richard (Laura) Cole, Colome; Virginia (Brad) Albertz, Humboldt, IA; Colleen Cole, Gayville, SD; and Teresa Stark, Johnstown, CO; 21 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren; her brother, Raymond (Mary) Jenkins, Booneville, MO; sister-in-laws Margaret Jenkins, Jefferson City, MO; Kaye Cole, Winner; Burdine Cole, Marjetta, GA and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Those who preceded her in death were her husband, Frank; her parents, her brothers, Leslie and John; her sisters, Myrtle, Gertrude, and Imogene; and her grandson, Nicholas Albertz.
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