Inez Woolhiser was born Oct. 9, 1919 at Bonesteel, South Dakota, to Milton and Carolyn (Baker) Woolhiser. When she was 18 months old her parents moved to rural Tripp County, South Dakota. She graduated from Colome High School in 1938. In 1945 she attended the Winona School of Photography in Winona Lake, Indiana.
Inez was employed by Rosebud Photo Company for 40 years and worked as a free lance photographer for 20 years before retiring in 2004. During her career behind the camera she chronicled several generations of families taking their baby pictures, grade school and communion photographs, Senior portraits, engagement, wedding, anniversary and reunion photos. She had a talent for setting up and photographing a large group of people and making everyone look good. She even had the adventure of climbing to the top of the grain elevator to take an aerial shot of the Winner Livestock yard.
Inez was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid, and Winner Hospital Auxiliary. As a Life member of VFW Auxiliary, she served the organization on all levels including State Auxiliary President in 1974-75, where she was named Outstanding State President of the Year. In 2004, Inez was named the State Volunteer of the Year and went on to be named the National Volunteer of the Year. Her work for the veterans and their families was always foremost in her volunteering efforts as she joined the auxiliary through the eligibility of her brothers, Linden Woolhiser who was killed in action in WW II, Glen who also served in WW II, and Merle who served in the Korean War.
Inez is preceded in death by her parents Milton and Carolyn Woolhiser, son LaMonte Woolhiser, sisters Emily Edwards, Eleanor Hammond, Helen Totton, and Ruth Wilke, brothers Linden, M. Glen, and Merle Woolhiser. Step-grandson Tom Orr, brothers-in-law Harry Edwards, Maurice Hammond, and Ray Totton.
Inez is survived by her granddaughters Sheila Woolhiser of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kimberly Woolhiser of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Dawn Shafer of Sioux City, Iowa, two very special people Mike and Lynn, their children and grandchildren, daughter-in-law Connie Woolhiser of Holiday Island, Arkansas, step-granddaughter Lori (Scott) Sanford and 2 step-granddaughters Samantha and Corrine Sanford of Roseville, California, brother-in-law Francis Wilke of Stanley, North Dakota, many nieces and nephews, and the numerous friends she made through out her long life.
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