Muriel E. “Babs” Maldeis, of Rapid City, died Monday, October 19, 2020 at a local health care facility.
She was born in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England to Stuart and Muriel (Pratt) Joyce.
Babs grew up in Clacton-on-Sea and in 1945 she became a war bride, marrying Lewis F. Maldeis, a US Army Air Corps supply Sgt. She entered the United States on May 6th, 1946 at New York City. They lived in Baltimore where she became an American citizen on January 14, 1952. They lived in Pennsylvania, Illinois and finally settled down in Ely, Minnesota where Babs was active in her church and church guilds and was active with the Ely Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Sled Dog Committee.
After Lewis passed away, Babs moved in with her son, Mark in Rapid City in 1993. She became an active member in the British Wives Club, serving as vice president and president and Emmanuel Episcopal Church E.C.W.
Babs is survived by her sons; Neil (Sue) of Ely, Minn. and Mark (Denise) of Rapid City, three granddaughters; Katie Maldeis, Minnesota, Kristen Rugile, California and Amanda Maldeis, Rapid City. She is also survived by her sister Heather, brother Kelvin, and niece Michaela, all of England.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Lewis and a sister, Lorna, of England.
A Memorial Eucharist will be held at 2:00pm, Thursday, October 29, 2020 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church with inurnment in the Emmanuel Church Memorial Garden next spring.
A memorial has been established to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church organ fund.
Friends may sign her online guest register and view a video recording following the service at www.osheimschmidt.com.