Obituary of LuElla Nusz Handel

LuElla (Stern) Nusz Handel was born May 19, 1920 to Joseph and Magdalena (Pfeifle) Stern at home in Wolf Creek Township, Hutchinson County, rural Freeman, SD, one of a set of twins. Her sister, Arlanda Hermina, died at 5-1/2 months. LuElla was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She attended a rural school and after her family moved into Menno in 1934, she was able to attend Menno High School, graduating in 1938. She married Ruben Nusz on December 13, 1939, eloping to Vermillion, SD with Rev. Roseland performing the ceremony. She worked in her parent's grocery store before they moved to Ruben's home farm 5-1/2 miles southeast of Menno in 1943, raising crops, cattle, pigs, geese and up to 1000 chickens at a time. In 1953 they started Nusz Feed Mill. Ruben's sudden death on January 11, 1960, left her with five children and six months pregnant with a sixth. Because of her faith in the Lord and perseverance, she and her children continued to run the farming and feed mill business. LuElla married Aaron Handel on September 1, 1972, and they continued the feed mill plus raised sheep until his death on June 26, 1983. LuElla had many interests and hobbies. She loved her family and worked hard to make sure they all had an education beyond high school. She especially loved music and she and her sister, Ruth, sang duets in church. Later she and Ruben sang duets for church, weddings, funerals, and anniversaries. She sang in the church choir, a sextet, quartet, and played in a bell choir. She enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and canning the produce from the garden. In later years, she helped her son, Erik, in his vegetable garden. Her other interests were dancing, word puzzles, handiwork, traveling and watching the stock market. She continued to live on that same farm with her son, Erik, until her health began deteriorating. She entered the Menno-Olivet Care Center on July 7, 2015 and spent her remaining days there, enjoying old TV reruns, daily ice cream treats, kisses and "dancing" with her caregivers. Those she leaves include her children: Veronica (Del) Schoenfish of Cambridge, NE, Judith (Bill) Headley of Menno, SD, Jerome (Kathy) Nusz of Sioux Falls, SD. Erik Nusz of Menno, SD. Teresa (Mark) Anderson of Freeman, SD, Troy Nusz of Sioux Falls, SD; one stepson, Dennis (Ronne) Handel of Aurora, CO; six grandchildren: Jennifer (Marc) Hanson, Crystal (Jon) Paone, Ruben (Amanda) Nusz, Jay (Rachelle) Headley, Benjamin (Chamomile) Nusz and Taylor Anderson; two step granddaughters: Heidi (Steve) Griff and Caroline (Eugene) Forbes; 10 great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren; a sister, Celia Bradley of Rapid City, SD and a brother, Gillas (Garnet) Stern of Sioux Falls, SD; a host of nieces and nephews, old friends and some new friends at the Menno-Olivet Care Center. Those preceding her in death were her parents; husbands, Ruben and Aaron; sisters: Arlanda, Ruth and her husband, Clarence and Elva and her husband, Marvin and brother, Clifford and his wife, Jimmy.