Laura Marie (Schwarz) Langholdt was born February 10, 1920, the youngest daughter of Carl F. and Rosa Bohlmann Schwarz. She died September 3, 2023, at Gracewell, Denison, at the age of 103 years, 6 months, and 15 days.
Laura was born at home on the family farm located northeast of Ricketts. She was baptized on March 7, 1920, and confirmed on March 31, 1935, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hanover Township, located east of Ricketts. Laura attended grade school at Morgan No. 9 through the 8th grade. She told stories of the long walk to and from school and how tickled she was when she could get a ride, either on horseback or the Ritzkachitz.
She was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ricketts from 1952 through its closing, then transferred her membership to St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak.
As a young woman, as was the custom, she worked as a hired girl for a family in the area. She met her husband-to-be at a carnival in Mapleton.
Laura and Wilbert (Whip) Langholdt were married on October 10, 1940. Soon after, Whip joined the Navy and served during WWII while Laura lived in Ricketts, with her sister Gladys. Laura remembered the treat of her dad bringing them eggs, cream, milk, meat and produce from the farm. Laura and Whip were blessed with two daughters, Marjorie Lou and Linda Marie. She was a loving, hardworking, and committed wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother, one who served and cared deeply for her extended family, her friends, and her community.
After the war, the couple began a trucking business. Laura worked alongside her husband for 27 years, first at a little cafe and bar called Whip’s Place, then later at Whip’s Lanes, a bowling alley that served the Ricketts community and the surrounding area. Many people fondly recall the bowling alley for great food, raucous laughter, and a place where “everybody knows your name.” She then carried on alone for 7 years after Whip’s passing with the help of friends and family.
Laura was never one to shy away from hard work, enjoying hours of service during Steam and Antique shows, parades, Euchre tournaments, and community celebrations.
Her retirement years were full of baking, flowers, and grandchildren, and a few travel adventures along the way. Laura showed her love through countless loaves of homemade bread, jars of jam, playing rummy, and helping with cleaning, in fact, her family lovingly referred to her as the “white tornado”. The great-grandchildren were cuddled, snuggled, and spoiled.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wilbert (Whip); and two sisters and their spouses, Esther and Carl Schnoor and Gladys and William S. (Bill) Keim, grandsons Jason Price and Cory Neddermeyer, great-grandchildren Madison Naill and Braden Neddermeyer. Those who remain to cherish her memory include her daughters, Marjorie (Allan) Neddermeyer of Charter Oak and Linda (Gary) Price of Sioux Falls; grandchildren include Sheri (Chase) Neddermeyer of Denison, Mark Neddermeyer (Lori) of Topeka, KS, Bethany (Ted) Mallory of Charter Oak, and Brenda (Kevin) Nolz of Sioux Falls. Laura had 12 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services was held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 7, at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak. Rev. Richard Merrill officiated the service with graveside rites at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Charter Oak.
Organist Brenda Christiansen provided accompaniment for congregational hymns, "Awake My Heart With Gladness," "On Eagles Wings," and "Lift High The Cross."
Serving as pallbearers were Mark Neddermeyer, Ted Mallory, Kevin Nolz, Cale Neddermeyer, Nolan Neddermeyer, and Logan Nolz.
The family invited everyone to the St. John Fellowship Hall for fellowship and lunch served by the St. John LWML.
Services were entrusted to the Huebner Funeral Home in Charter Oak.
