Emadele L. Rupe, 86, passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at Avera Flandreau Hospital. Emadele was born September 29, 1931 in Spring Creek Township, Moody County, SD, to Fritz and Esther (Smallfield) Bendt. She attended Dexter Country School and graduated from Flandreau High School in 1950. Emadele then worked for the county superintendent of education. She married Theodore Rupe on April 9, 1955 at Flandreau. Emadele began working as a secretary for Flandreau Public School in 1965. Her husband preceded her in death on March 17, 1973. She worked at the school for thirty-eight years. Emadele worked summers at the Flandreau swimming pool. After retiring from the school in 2003, she worked for social services until 2013. Emadele was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and WELCA. She enjoyed oil painting, crocheting, knitting and embroidering.

Emadele is survived by her daughter Teresa (John Stulken) Rupe, Pierre SD; great-grandson Eric Rupe, Sioux Falls; nephew Doug Bendt, Flandreau; nieces Patricia Blackketter, Elkton; Kris DeWitt, Watertown, SD and Tammi Finnigen, Clear Lake, SD. Emadele was preceded in death by her husband Ted, granddaughter Cassandra, parents and one brother Loren.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 27, 2018 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church with burial in Union Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Skroch Funeral Chapel with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service.