Eileen’s Obituary Eileen Joyce (Babcock) Flatt was born July 22, 1926 on the family farm 19 miles north of Wall and died February 21, 2019 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital. She attended grade school at Pleasant Ridge School near Creighton and graduated from Wall High School in 1944. Following graduation, Eileen attended Black Hills State College and taught school for two years at Huron and North Creighton Schools.
She was united in marriage to Merl Flatt on April 12, 1946 in Rapid City and was baptized and a member of the Wall Methodist Church and later a member of the Canyon Lake United Methodist Church in Rapid City. Eileen was active in many organizations throughout her life including the Wall PTA, American Legion Auxiliary, Wall Chamber of Commerce and the Catalyst Club. She also volunteered her time and res with Merl for several years at the original swimming pool in Wall while helping as a Cub Scout Den Mother, Bible School teacher and a Welcome Wagon representative.
She served as chairman of Wall’s Diamond Jubilee in 1982, was president of the Wall Methodist Women for three years, helped organize and was president of the Badlands Alumni Group for 10 years, helped start the Senior Citizens Group in Wall, served as a committee woman for the Wall Republican Committee and was a board member of the Wall Street Players. Eileen received the Good Neighbor Award in 1983 and was also inducted into the South Dakota Fairman’s Hall of Fame in 2001. She enjoyed organizing trips to Hawaii, playing cards with her friends and being on the Wall Celebration Committee.
Eileen also enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow and seeing the mark they were leaving on the world and most of all, Eileen loved visiting with her friends and family on the phone or in person. Eileen is survived by her husband of 72 years Merl, sons Douglas (Pat) Flatt Pinon Hills, CA, Dwight (Melanie) Flatt Chandler, AZ, brother Gordon Babcock Hot Springs, SD and sister Shirley Hamilton of ElDorado, CA, grandchildren Heather Flatt, Dustin (Kalli) Flatt, Michelle (John) Banks, Michael Flatt, Misty (Saleel) Mathews, Jason (Katie) Flatt and great-grandchildren Devesh Mathews, Ajay Mathews, McKenzie Flatt, Autumn Flatt, Journey Flatt and Graeden Flatt. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Alton.
Graveside only services will be held at a later date at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD. No memorial has been established but know Eileen would appreciate people volunteering in their church, their community, helping a friend or a stranger or simply taking the time to visit with others.
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