Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, at Peever Lutheran Church, Peever, SD at 10:30 A.M. There will be visitation on Monday, at the Cahill Funeral Chapel from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM with family present from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Elnora Louise Rusch Kempton "Susie" was born April 7, 1925 to Marguerite Webster Rusch and August Rusch in Cumberland, Wisconsin. She graduated Luck, Wisconsin high school in 1943 and then attended a vocational school in Duluth, MN/Superior, WI. She began secretarial training, but switched to telegraphy which led her to become the depot agent in Peever, SD. While working on the railroad, she acquired the nickname "Susie" which stuck throughout her life. In 1948 she married O. Dale Kempton. The couple was blessed with five children. Susie became the Peever, SD postmaster in 1963. She was very involved in the NAPUS organization, including serving as the Sergeant at Arms at their National Convention. Susie retired from the post office in 1989 after which she served as an area tourism ambassador at the Nicollet Tower in Sisseton. Susie authored the Peever News column in the Sisseton Courier for years. If you passed through Peever, no doubt you made the news. With her pen in one hand, she always had her camera in the other. Chances are, if you ever met Susie, she probably had your picture among her photo collections.

Susie and Dale were avid square dancers. Susie served as a 4-H leader and was an active extension club member. Susie proudly served as the grand marshal of the Peever Snoose Alley Bash parade in 1990. She was active in the Peever Community Club, Peever Cemetery Board, and Peever Lutheran Church where she and Dale sang at many funerals. Following Dale's passing, Susie moved to the Boulevard Unit of the Crestview Lutheran Living Center in Columbia Heights, MN, near her daughter Betty. She remained there until health issues required a move, taking her back to South Dakota in June. She was residing at the Bowdle Nursing home, near her daughter Janet, at the time of her passing.

Elnora was preceded in death by her parents; half-brother, Walter; sister, Marguerite Jacobson, infant son David, and husband, Dale. Elnora is survived by four children: Betty Kempton, Roseville, MN; Janet (Calvin) Sandmeier, Bowdle, SD; James (Lori) Kempton, Sheridan, WY; and Peggy Holbrook, Sioux Falls, SD; 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.