Elaine Mathis

Elaine Mathis, 90, of Watertown, South Dakota, formerly of Mitchell, South Dakota, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

Elaine Joan Mathis was born on October 4, 1935 to Edward and Martha (Heckenlaible) Hoerth on a farm northeast of Wessington Springs in Dale Township. The family moved into Wessington Springs in the fall of 1942 where Elaine started school and graduated high school in 1954.

Elaine worked as Deputy Register of Deeds at the local courthouse from 1957 to 1960. She then worked at the local co-op as a bookkeeper until 1963 when she moved to Mitchell and worked at Geyerman’s until her marriage to Ivan Mathis of Mount Vernon on April 9, 1965. They lived and farmed northeast of Mount Vernon. She loved to garden, sew, crochet and take in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities. After Ivan passed away on April 1, 1995, Elaine moved to Mitchell in 1997 and lived there until 2004 when she moved to Watertown, SD to be closer to her daughter Juliane and family. In Watertown, Elaine enjoyed going to the Senior Center and Salvation Army.

Elaine is survived by her six children, Janis (Kevin) Anderson of Sturgis, SD, Jim Mathis of Mount Vernon, Jolene (Doug) Vavra of Winner, SD, Jerry Mathis of Beresford, SD, Juliane (Jim) Lloyd of Watertown, SD, and Jason Mathis of Sioux Falls, SD; 12 grandchildren; three great grandchildren with one on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Edward and Martha Hoerth; husband, Ivan; two brothers, Laverne and Glen Hoerth; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Hoerth, Pearl Mathis, Mavis Mathis, Frances Mathis, and Flo Mathis; brothers-in-law, Marvin Mathis, Vern Mathis Sr., Delbert Mathis; and grandson, Bradley Anderson.