Alice M. Ketchum, 92 of Buffalo, SD, passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at the Southwest Healthcare Hospital in Bowman, ND.

Funeral Services for Alice will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Grand River Lutheran Church in Buffalo. Vicar Susan Fox will officiate with burial to follow in the Bowman Cemetery. Visitation for Alice will be on Friday, April 9, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Krebsbach Funeral Home Chapel in Bowman.

Alice Chase was born at home near Ludlow, SD, the second of five children born to Herb and Margaret (Gunderson) Chase on July 12, 1917. She was raised on a sheep ranch at the foot of Table Mountain and attended rural schools in the area. She then attended and graduated from Spearfish High School in 1936. She returned home and began working at the Fowler Hotel in Buffalo. Alice was united in marriage to Neil Ketchum on July 8, 1938 in Buffalo. After their marriage, they made their home on the Lane Ranch until 1949 when they moved to their own ranch in the Cave Hills near Ludlow, SD. Alice was not only a wonderful mother, but she worked everyday, side by side with Neil helping with all the daily duties of running a ranch. In 1984, Alice and Neil retired, sold their ranch and moved to Buffalo. They lived their entire married life together in Harding County.

Alice enjoyed many things in her life. She will be remembered for her kind heart and gentle spirit. She loved to garden, where she spent many hours working in her flowerbeds and growing vegetables. She would share much of her garden's produce with her family and friends. Alice enjoyed crocheting. She learned how to crochet over the phone and once again gave away most of her work to family and friends. Alice loved all animals and spent many hours among them. She loved birds and could tell you the names of just about every bird she came across. Most of all, Alice enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

She was a member of the Grand River Lutheran Church in Buffalo and also the Study Club.

She will be deeply missed by her husband Neil of Buffalo, SD, daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Gary Gilbert of Ludlow, SD, son-in-law, Mike Tibbs of Ft. Pierre, SD, grandchildren, Neilie Tibbs, Shawn (Steph) Tibbs, Mika Tibbs, Pine Gilbert, Denver (Jenny) Gilbert, and Matt (Carmen) Gilbert, great grandchildren, Jordyn and Cayle Tibbs, Clay, Cassidy, Kaydee, Gracy, Gage and Molly Gilbert, she is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Herb and Margaret (Gunderson) Chase, daughter, Kay Tibbs, sister, Mae Rouna and brothers Harold, Art and Arnold Chase, nephews, Herb and Sam Chase.

Krebsbach Funeral Service of Bowman in charge of the arrangements.