Arla Faith Kunz, 73, of Sioux Falls passed away Thursday, July 11, 2013, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.
Visitation will be held one hour before the funeral service on Tuesday.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at the United Church in Philip with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating.
Interment will be in the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.
A memorial is established.
Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip.
Her online guestbook is available at rushfuneralhome.com.
Arla Faith Johnson was born on Aug. 9, 1939, in Wasta to A.E. "Doll" and Fern (Crosmer) Johnson. She grew up in the heart of the Badlands in Interior and graduated valedictorian from Interior High School in 1957. As a young woman, she moved to Omaha, Neb., to attend Airline Hostess Training. In fall 1958, she attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, where she met her future husband, Ted K. Kunz.
Ted and Faith were united in marriage on June 5, 1960, in Pierre. They made their first home in Britton, where she worked as a school secretary. A year later, she stayed home to raise her children, until moving to Philip in summer 1987. Referring to Philip as "God's Country," Faith loved living there and she considered it a blessing and privilege to spend time with her mom. Faith loved caring for children, so she decided to open a daycare in their home for a number of years. Ted and Faith continued to make their home in Philip, until moving to Sioux Falls in July 2011.
Over the years, Faith was an active member of the United Church, where she served on various committees. She was dedicated and continued to show her love of working with children by teaching Sunday school and by volunteering with the summer vacation bible programs. She was at her best, and her happiest, helping others; she loved every second that she was able to spend with her family, her mom or her grandchildren. She was a faithful servant of God and enjoyed reading her daily Bible.
Faith was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Ted, on Sept. 2, 2011.
Grateful for sharing her life are her children: Rob Kunz and his wife, Nancy, of Sioux Falls, Connie Schmiesing and her husband, DeWayne, of Sioux Falls, Linda Fisher and her husband, Travis, of Polson, Mont., Randy Kunz and his wife, Nichole, of Berthold, N.D., and Andrew Kunz and his wife, Lisa, of Sioux Falls; 11 grandchildren: Alex and Lauren Kunz, James Schmiesing, Mollie and Samuel Fisher, Taylor, Lanie, Jackson and Connor, Joseph and Claire Kunz; two brothers: Daryl Johnson and his wife, Petey, of Stanwood, Wash., and Harry Johnson and his wife, Florence, of Watertown; one sister, Deanna Hilton and her husband, Billy, of Rapid City; Caleb Clements of Chamberlain; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband Ted, Faith was preceded in death by infant daughter, Julie Marie Kunz; her parents, Doll and Fern Johnson; infant brother, Arell Johnson; her parents-in-law, Andrew and Lizzie Kunz; two brothers-in-law: John Kunz and Alvin Kunz; and one sister-in-law, Adelaide Kunz.
Faith's family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Edgewood Vista Memory Care Assisted Living and to the Sanford Hospital and Hospice for the kind and loving care they provided.