Elsie G. Meeks was born December 26, 1905, the first child of Samuel E. and Maggie Pearl (Anthis) Meeks, at Decker, Indiana.

She grew up and received her education in southern Indiana.  She attended Chicago School of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois.

Elsie was united in marriage to Joseph Ravellette on August 14, 1928, in Vincennes, Indiana, and to this union was born four sons and two daughters, of which were a set of twins, Lester Ray and Esther May.

They farmed in Knox County near Decker, Indiana, until her husband's death on January 17, 1945.

In December of 1946, Elsie and her four sons moved to Sisseton, South Dakota, where she accepted a nursing position at Roberts County Community Hospital.  Later she worked in hospitals in Watertown, South Dakota, and Pipestone, Minnesota, before retiring in 1964.

After her retirement, Elsie spent time with her three career Navy sons who lived in various places in the United States, but established her home in Philip where her son, Les, and his family, resided.  Elsie was always very proud of the fact that all four of her sons served in the Armed Forces.

Elsie resided in Philip from 1964 until health reasons forced her to move into the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood, South Dakota, in November of 1988.

Elsie attended the United Church, was a member of the Chapter #100 Order of the Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Bad River Senior Citizens Center, all of Philip.  She also enjoyed doing needlework, reading and studying the Bible, and her daily walks around Philip.

Grateful for having shared her life are her four sons, Samuel A. Ravellette of Corpus Christi, Texas, Les Ravellette of Philip, South Dakota, Richard Ravellette of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Glenn Ravellette of Spring Valley, California; 5 grandsons; 8 granddaughters; 20 great-grandchildren; one brother, John Meeks of New Palestine, Indiana; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Joseph, she was preceded in death by her two daughters, Eleanor Ravellette, in infancy, and Esther Ravellette, at the age of 11; one grandson, Samuel Ravellette, Jr.; her parents; five brothers, Arthur and Samuel "Tin" Meeks, and three brothers in infancy; and two sisters in infancy.

Services
Thursday, February 16, 1989
2:00 p.m.
United Church
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Aron Wilterding

Music
JoAnne Stilwell - Organist
Jan Hewitt - Vocalist
Congregational Participation

Ushers
Mark Scharn - Cliff Fees
Norman Payne

Active Pallbearers - Grandsons
Ron Ravellette - Tim Ravellette
Don Ravellette - Robert Ravellette
Dan Fosness - Don Haynes

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota