KATHRYNE METTEER

Kathryne (Kaye) Rose (Efta) Metteer was born to James and Lillian (Wagner) Efta on Sept 24, 1923 and was the first of 15 children. At age six her family moved to Tabor, then settled in Wagner, where she finished her secondary education and worked at Fred Conger's Café. This is where she met her future husband Jack (Donald) Metteer, a tall, handsome young man who bet his friends $5.00 that he could take her home after work; a feat others had tried but failed.

Kaye was fond of saying “Our marriage began on a bet and has been a gamble ever since”.

Kaye moved to Chicago, Illinois to help in the war effort where she worked in the munitions factory. On two occasions, Jack ask Kaye to meet him back in South Dakota, she made arrangements to leave for a weekend only to have his leave cancelled. A week later Kaye again asked for the weekend off, lying to her boss about her mother being sick, (she insisted that was the only lie she ever told). Her time off was granted, she headed home, the same day they were married Jack shipped off to Europe to serve in the US Army during WWII.

Kaye taught in one room country schools in Charles Mix County. She assisted her husband Jack with several successful businesses in Wagner and Sioux Falls until 1976, they, along with their son Mike, moved to the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and started Metteer and Son Plumbing and Heating. She remained in Alaska until 2006 when she moved back to South Dakota, eventually settling in Idaho where she resided until her death October 10, 2018.

Kathryne, was a devout Catholic, who raised her children in her faith and rarely missed Mass. She loved her family and enjoyed the times when she could be in their company. She especially enjoyed her great and great-great grandchildren.

Kathryne was preceded in death by her parents, James and Lillian Efta, husband, Donald Metteer, nine siblings, one nephew and a great nephew.

Kathryne is survived by her four children Richard (Cindy) Metteer and Michael Metteer of Caldwell, Idaho, Patricia (Duane) Kolda of Beresford, and Eileen Shaffer of Omaha, Nebraska. Five siblings Anthony Efta of Wagner, Leonard Efta of Kenai, Alaska, Louise Mika of Nikiski, Alaska, Joan (Norman) Woods of Wagner, and Joyce (Jerome) Sanders of Roosevelt, Washington. Eleven grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and three great great grand children and five generations of nieces and nephews.

Kaye’s passing has left a hole in the hearts of her family and she will be missed.