Ethel Lovelace
In loving memory of Ethel Lovelace, 85, formerly of Motley, who entered into rest November 20, 2025 in Browerville.
A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the Motley Free Methodist Church with Pastor Jim Johnson officiating.
Ethel (Terry) was born February 4, 1940, the youngest daughter of Alexander and Martha Estelle (Frazier) Rencountre at Ft. Thompson, South Dakota.
Terry was a proud member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. She was raised in South Dakota and attended Rapid City schools. She married Ron Lovelace on May 31, 1958 in Tupelo, Mississippi. They had three children, Robert, Lorretta and Michael. Ron was in the Air Force when they met and their children were born while he was an active member of the military.
Terry and Ron lived in several states before returning to the family farm near Browerville. Wherever they lived Terry adapted and cared for her family. They stayed on the farm from 1965 to 1975. Terry taught herself how to sew, garden and canned much of the produce from the garden. She had a busy life on the farm, helping with re-modeling the barn into a grade “A” dairy and cleaning the milking equipment daily. During haying season her job was driving the tractor pulling the hay bailer. She would do whatever was needed for the farm, all the while keeping her family fed.
In 1975 they sold the farm and purchased a semi truck becoming over-the-road truck drivers. They continued trucking for 38 years, retiring in 2013. Terry loved to tell stories of their many adventures throughout the United States. They were together for 61 years when Ron passed in 2019. Theirs was a love story. Terry missed Ron every moment since his passing; it was like there was no Terry without Ron. Now, they are together again.
Ethel (Terry) is survived by one daughter, Lorretta (Kevin) Ely of Stratton, NE; three younger sisters, Jeanne (Tom) Grissom of Rapid City, SD, Linda (Shannon) Horton of Salina, OK and Karen (Bob) Guess of Demorest, GA; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews scattered across the USA.
Ethel was preceded in death by two beloved sons, Robert and Michael Lovelace; parents; three brothers and three sisters.
In lieu of flower, consider donating to the local “Meals On Wheels”.
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