Lila M. St. John, age 95, of Brookings, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 31, 2008, at the Brookings Hospital. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, August 3, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church in Brookings, with interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitations are from 5-8 P.M. Saturday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Lila Maxine (Baker) St. John was born February 18, 1913, on a farm near Bruce, South Dakota, to William and Della (Jones) Baker. She attended country school and graduated from Bruce High School in 1932. On March 12, 1934, she was united in marriage to Merwin St. John at Lake Norden, South Dakota. To this union, two children, Darwin and Lois were born. They farmed near Bruce until 1972 when Merwin passed away. Lila then moved to Volga. She truly enjoyed people. She worked, for nine years outside the home as a caregiver in her Aunt Fern Erickson?s convalescent home in Volga. She enjoyed assisting people as a grocery clerk in Volga for 25 years. Her retirement years continued to strengthen her enjoyment of being around people She actively participated in her church?s Ladies Aid, Hospital Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Fortnightly Club, Knit ?N Stitch, Birthday Club, and Century Club. (She really enjoyed all the clubs.) She was an avid walker during every season, and could be found walking for a full hour before going to work. At the age of five her passion for crocheting quickly developed when her mother taught her how to crochet. Her magnificent skills are represented in the many masterful pieces she created in crocheting and knitting. She was also and extremely talented seamstress, enthusiastic about needle work, and zealous about her flower gardening. She enjoyed many hours of volunteer work, both in the community and the Hospital Auxiliary. Her responsiveness to people and their needs was recognized in 1983 by Beta Psi when they awarded her a Certificate of Appreciation for the People Helping People Award. Survivors include her daughter, Lois (Wayne) Thompson, of Colman, South Dakota; six grandchildren: Elizabeth (John) Kilbourne of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Robert Hanson of Centennial, Colorado, Katherine (David) Tarrell of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Brian (Mary Kay) Thompson of Brandon, South Dakota, Chad (Stephanie) Hanson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Sheri Beth (Doug) Scheerhorn of Hills, Minnesota; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a sister-in-law, Mildred Anderson, of Brookings, South Dakota; and nieces, nephews, and many wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Merwin; son, Darwin; parents; a brother, Leslie; and two sisters, Wilma and Gladys.