Pastor Mary Lou Gruebele, 87, Eureka, SD, died Monday, June 8, 2026, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, SD. Her funeral service will be 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 13, 2026, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Eureka, led by Pastor LuCinda Haak. Interment follows at the Greenway Cemetery. Organist will be Rhonda Strouckel; Congregational Hymns will be “In the Garden”, “Jesus Loves Me”, “Amazing Grace, how Sweet the Sound”, and “My God and I”; Cindy Schumacher will sing “They Shall Soar Like Eagles”; and ushers will be Wayne and Susan Lutz.

Visitation begins at 5:00 PM on Friday at Lien-Straub-Carlsen Chapel in Eureka with a 7:00 PM prayer service.

Mary Lou’s funeral will be livestreamed at the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook page.

Mary Lou Schnaible, daughter of Emil and Justina Helen (Miller) was born January 4, 1939, at the Bowdle Hospital. The Schnaibles lived southwest of Bowdle. Mary Lou was baptized on May 7, 1939 by Rev. E.H. Vetter and confirmed on July 5, 1953 by Rev. G.T. Kern at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bowdle. She attended Northwest Odessa School and graduated from Bowdle High School, Class of 1957. She attended Northern State Teacher’s College in Aberdeen and taught at the Bentz School northwest of Artas, SD, the Union School north of Pollock in North Dakota, the Detmold #2 School north of Eureka and the Greenway School. On June 5, 1960, Mary Lou married Leo Gruebele at St. Paul Church in Bowdle with Rev. Rueben G. Schnaidt officiating. Three children were born to this union, Jeanne Lou (4/30/1961), Mark John (7/27/1962), and David Lee (8/23/1963). They farmed in the Greenway, SD area northwest of Eureka. Farming and raising a family was a joy for Leo and Mary Lou. They became members of Frieden’s Congregational Church in Greenway on July 30, 1961. The Church closed after celebrating its 75th Anniversary on October 9, 1966, then Mary Lou and Leo became members at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Eureka on July 9, 1967. Mary Lou taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was Sunday School Superintendent and Church Historian for many years. She belonged to the UCC Women’s Fellowship and was a UCC Oahe Association Representative to the State UCC Women’s Fellowship Board. On July 3, 2005, she was named as one of South Dakota’s Honored Lay Women at the UCC General Synod Assembly in Atlanta, GA. She enjoyed being involved in the UCC Association Rallies and Placerville Women’s Camp. Mary Lou was also secretary of the McPherson County Republican Party and was a precinct worker. Leo died November 22, 1993, and Mary Lou moved to Eureka in 1995. She joined the Eureka Garden Club in 1996 and enjoyed the Flower Shows in Eureka and other area towns. She also earned her Master Gardening Certification. Mary Lou resumed her education in 2001 and, on June 11, 2004, earned an Associate of Theology Degree through Yankton College and the UCC Conference. She was a pulpit supply pastor in churches from Columbia, SD to McLaughlin, SD and from Ashley, ND to Pierre, SD. In 2010, she started serving the Selby, SD United Church of Christ and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Java, SD as Pastor. She also conducted worship services and visited in several area nursing homes. As a member of the Selby Ministerial Association, Mary Lou visited the Women’s section of the Walworth County Jail in Selby monthly. Mary Lou retired from active ministry on March 19, 2023, and lived the rest of her life in Eureka and continued to provide services at the Eureka Community Nursing Home up until her passing. In addition to her churches, Mary Lou also enjoyed gardening, quilting, authoring poems, scrapbooking, stamping, genealogy, and spending time with her family. Mary Lou will be remembered as a beloved friend to many.

Mary Lou is survived by her children, Jeanne (Glen) Clark, Mark (Susan) Gruebele and David (Kim) Gruebele all of Eureka; one sister, Shirley Keller of Yacolt, WA; four grandchildren—Nicole (Sean) Frerk of Eureka, Morgan Gruebele of Ft. Pierre, SD,  Taylor Clark of Aurora, CO, and Aaron Clark of New York City, NY; two great grandchildren, Caleb and Dawsyn; and sister-in-law, Roxanne Schnaible of Burnsville, MN.

In addition to Leo, she was preceded in death by her father, Emil, on January 27, 1994; her mother, Justina, on June 4, 1999; and her brother Duane, on February 8, 2025.

Honorary bearers will be Area Pastors, Yankton College Friends, and members of the Eureka Garden Club.

Casketbearers will be grandchildren, Nicole, Morgan, Taylor, and Aaron; great grandchildren, Caleb and Dawsyn; nephew, Adam Schnaible of Eagan, MN,  and niece, Jenny Engel of Elko New Market, MN.

Services are in care of Lien-Straub-Carlsen Chapel, Eureka.