Petra Hietter, age 94, of 1345 Michigan Ave. SE, Huron, SD, died Monday, March 31, 2008, at the Huron Nursing Home. Her funeral mass will be at 10:00 AM Tuesday, April 8, at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish with Father Terry Anderson officiating. Burial will be at St. Martin Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 1-8 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home with the family present from 5-8 p.m. and a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary; or Tuesday morning one hour prior to the funeral mass at the church. Petra Hietter was born Petra Mary Helvik on November 6, 1913, in Mapleton, IA, to Bert and Monica (Simonette) Helvik. She started grade school in Charter Oak, IA, but soon her father was transferred to Ethan, SD, as Agent for the CMSP Railway. She graduated from Ethan High School in 1932, where she was active in girl scouts, drama, band and orchestra. She was also captain of the girls basketball and softball teams and was a cheerleader for three years. In August, 1932, Petra enrolled in St. Josephs School of Nursing in Mitchell, SD, and graduated in 1935. She was a Red Cross Nurse and spent one year at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN. She then returned to St. Joseph Hospital in Mitchell to set up the first Central Supply Department. Petra was a life member of the St. Joseph Hospital Alumni and served as its president and also secretary-treasurer. She was a member of the District Nurses Association and served as secretary-treasurer for two years. On September 24, 1940, Petra married George M. Hietter in the Chapel of St. Josephs Hospital in Mitchell. They made their home in Lincoln, NE, where her husband worked as an Engineer for the US Department of Agriculture. In 1942, they moved to Hettinger, ND, where Mr. Hietter served as USDA Water Facilities Engineer for North Dakota and South Dakota. In 1944, they transferred to Huron, SD, where George was USDA engineer for South Dakota and Nebraska. George and Petra continued living in Huron after 1944 and had four children: Thomas Joseph, Mary Therese, Joanne Marie and Kathryn Ann. Joanne passed away at 18 months of age due to a congenital heart condition. They were members of St. Martins Parish and Church of the Resurrection, which have become Holy Trinity Catholic Parish. Petra resided in the Huron Nursing Home from May 2001 until her death. In Huron, Petra was active in sports and played with the Riverside Softball Team. She was a Cub Scout leader for three years and a Girl Scout leader for two years. She was a member of St. Martins Altar Society and served as co-president for one year. Petra belonged to the Catholic Nurses Association and served terms as president and treasurer. She was a member of St. Catherines Band and was president for one year. In 1947, Petra joined Catholic Daughters, served as Grand Regent for two years and was a member of the State Past Regents Association. Petra was a member of the District Nurses Association and served on the Board of Directors for one year. Petra was employed at St. Johns Hospital as Head Nurse in the Nursery and then Supervisor of the Maternity Department. She was instrumental in setting up the first Pre-Natal Classes offered by the hospital. She was in charge of the Fire and Disaster Committee for many years. Upon retirement from St. Johns Maternity Department, Petra started the Home Health Agency and was its first Director. She was a member of the Huron Senior Center and a volunteer for the Red Cross and Hospice. In 1983, at age 70, Petra retired from nursing. She and her husband did a great deal of traveling and visiting of their children and families. Since the mid-1980s, they wintered in Mesa, AZ. Petra is survived by one son, Thomas (Nancy) Hietter of Bull Valley, IL; two daughters, Mary Langhorst of Bellevue, NE and Kathryn (Robert) Elliott of Vancouver, WA; six grandchildren, Paul (Julie) Hietter of Gilbert, AZ; Catherine (Joe) Cox of Woodstock, IL; Renee (James) Cann of Omaha, NE; Christopher Langhorst of Las Vegas, NV; Laura Elliott of Seattle, WA; Sarah Elliott of Seattle, WA; eight great-grandchildren: Edward, William and Christiana Hietter; Charles and Elizabeth Cox; and Nicole, Alexander and Allison Cann; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bert and Monica Helvik; husband, George; daughter, Joanne Marie; brother, Clarence Helvik and his wife Frances; sister-in-law, Bernadine McCrea and her husband Charles; and son-in-law, David Langhorst.