Delila Mattis, 66, of Wagner

Memorial Services will be 11 AM, Friday, June 9, 2017 at the American Legion Hall in Wagner. Inurnment will be in the ZCBJ Cemetery, rural Wagner.

Delila Lois Kuil was born in Platte, South Dakota to Dick and Lois (Adams) Kuil on April 23, 1951. She passed away on June 4, 2017 at the age of 66.

Lila married Jim Mattis on August 20, 1966. Three children were born to their union. Lila had many accomplishments throughout her life. She started working for South Central Child Development in 1976. She was a teacher in the classroom for many, many years. Later on she became an Area Manager. While working and raising three kids and a husband she also earned her degree in Education from DWU. She belonged to a few different organizations which include Wagner Lions Club, Red Hat Society, VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and Wagner Community Club. She was also the Chairman for the Charles Mix County Child Protection Team. One accomplishment that she was really proud of was bringing the Dental Van to the Wagner and Lake Andes area. It provided free dental services to those in need.

Lila loved to travel and it was nothing for her to jump in her car and end up in New Orleans or California. She liked to sit at her kitchen table and watch all the different birds and squirrels out on the deck and could tell you what each one was. She adored her cat, puzzles, computer games and a little Crown Royal every now and then. The thing she loved most in life was children. She loved children and she worked tirelessly for them for four decades. Lila especially loved her grandchildren. She had a special relationship with each one of them and made them all feel like they were her favorite.

Lila touched many different lives through her career and life. Whether you needed some advice or just a shoulder to lean on she was there for you. You never had to wonder what she was thinking because she would tell you whether you wanted to hear it or not. She had a unique sense of humor and a big heart. She helped many people. Lila always had a quote around that was one of her favorites and she lived up to the quote. "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…but that the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." - Forest E. Whitcraft

Lila is survived by her 3 children: Todd (Angie) Mattis, Troy (Patti) Mattis and Tila (Bruce) Anderson, all of Wagner; 11 grandchildren, Zach Kafka, Joe, Jake, Jenna and Jeff Mattis, Holly, Hannah and Hailee Mattis, Anthony (Liz) Anderson, Brendon and Jamie Anderson; one great grandchild, Jack Mattis and future grandchild due in July; sister Pat (Dave) Slaba of Geddes and brother Fred (Marlys) Kuil of Sioux Falls; and many loved nieces and nephews.

Lila was preceded in death by her husband James Mattis, parents Dick and Lois Kuil, in-laws Ruben and Elaine Mattis, brother Roy Kuil and wife Karen, and brother Richard Kuil and wife Glenda.