Elinor Grace Keck "Ellie" Haberman, 93, passed away peacefully on Feb. 28, 2013, at Golden Living - Prairie Hills nursing home in Rapid City, SD, mercifully ending a five-year battle with multiple severe ailments. As Ellie had long been the bright light of every room she graced, and beloved "adopted" mother to so many, words can't begin to convey how deeply missed she is by scores of grieving family and friends. Please don't miss her memorial celebration details below in the final paragraph. Ellie was born in Menomonie, WI, on Apr. 23, 1919, to the Rev. Dr. Samuel W. and Mabel C. Keck of Watertown, SD, following her twin brother Sam Jr. by just ten minutes, much to her parents' surprise. Dr. Keck was a Congregational minister, as was her mother Mabel, a remarkable achievement in that day. The family later moved to Huron, SD, where Dr. Keck became the church's state superintendent. At first, Ellie was a shy, quiet youngster but she gradually adopted plenty of her brother's easy outgoing charm, much to their big sister Lois' disdain. That of course melted away entirely as they all later discovered in each other the greatest of friends and confidants. While her siblings both became great musical talents, Ellie developed her own amazing skill as a phenomenally fast and accurate typist. At Huron High School, Ellie met her future husband, Hap, who played marimba in her pianist brother Sam's dance band. They dated through her Yankton College years, becoming engaged shortly before he entered the Army during WWII. Ellie then worked at the Naval hospital in Oakland, CA, while Hap served his duty at various US bases. They married on Jan. 15, 1945, at his Army base in South Carolina, just days before he was sent abroad to Germany for over a year. The reunited newlyweds settled in Vermillion, SD, where Hap worked at USD toward a professional acting and teaching career under Dr. Warren M. Lee. In 1947, Doc Lee recruited Ellie and Hap as two of the earliest company members of his newborn Black Hills Playhouse, sparking a uniquely long relationship there through 42 summer seasons all the way to 2000. Ellie's signature roles at the BHP included decades-long stints as its mail carrier, personal shopper, and most memorably, Evie Lee's saloon dancing partner in every Monday's "The Legend of Devil's Gulch," perhaps the most famous double-act in the area. As Ellie's creekside BHP "happy hours" gradually attained legendary status, the Playhouse quickly joined Placerville church camp, the site of many lively youthful summers, as two of Ellie's three most cherished places in the Black Hills, or indeed anywhere. Summers aside, the remainder of their careers unfolded out in beautiful California. While Hap earned his Ph.D. at Stanford University, Ellie became the proud mother of son Jim in May 1952. Various teaching assignments moved them around the state, finally landing them in lovely coastal Ventura. Hap taught drama at Ventura College for 25 years while Ellie was in high secretarial demand as a "Girl Friday." Ventura life was greatly enriched by proximity to Ellie's treasured sister Lois and kids in nearby Santa Barbara, as well as her retired parents in Claremont. During these prime-time decades, she also achieved wide acclaim among friends and Ventura faculty as an outstanding hostess whose laughter-filled parties are still fondly recalled. But it was the rustic beauty and charm of the cabin she and Hap purchased in 1974, nestled in a gorgeous wooded glen on Remington Road near the Playhouse, that became Ellie's third and perhaps most favorite spot on Earth. For several summers they divided their time between the BHP and their beloved cabin, and needless to say, festivities of renown sprang up there too despite lacking electricity and running water, thanks to Ellie's ingenious hosting. After Hap retired from Ventura, he and Ellie moved to Deadwood, SD, in 1993 for four wildly happy years despite some cruel winters and a wickedly off-kilter staircase up to their apartment above a casino. Several "farewell" Playhouse seasons followed, alongside a move to vastly improved comfort in Rapid City. From there, Ellie and Hap relished frequent travels to distant family and friends, while enjoying closer adventures all around their cherished Hills. Sadly, Ellie's health never recovered from a devastating fall and injury in late 2007 though her strength and inner spirit remained remarkably strong to the very end. Ellie was pre-deceased by her much adored brother, Sam Keck Jr., in 1972, who'd been her first and finest tutor in how to fully enjoy life; and her sweet and accomplished parents, Mabel C. Keck, in 1972, and Rev. Dr. Samuel W. Keck, in 1982. At the head of Ellie's survivor list is her deeply beloved husband of 68 years, Dr. LeRoy D. "Hap" Haberman, 94, of Rapid City. Also grieving are Ellie's proud son Jim (Sharon) Haberman of Carpinteria, CA; sister Lois Lindt, 97, of Santa Barbara, CA; grandson Dr. Brent Haberman of Memphis, TN; granddaughter Kate (Josh) Gatewood of Lincoln, NE; cousin Jim (Joanne) Keck of Rapid City; nephew John (Margaret) Lindt of Los Osos, CA; nieces Dr. Josephine (Mark Weissberg) Lindt of Kensington, CA, and Peggy (Eric Kelley) Lindt of Santa Barbara, CA; and of course Ellie's dear roommate-companion-protector at Golden Living, Teresa Sigman of Sturgis. Memorial contributions to Ellie's beloved Black Hills Playhouse continue to be gratefully accepted in her name at their website and mailing address. Our heartfelt thanks go out to those able to make any donation to that most treasured place in her life. A very special memorial event, "A Happy-Hour Celebration of Ellie," will be held on Sunday, May 12, from 4 to 6pm in the ballroom of the Alex Johnson Hotel in Rapid City. Ellie fans everywhere are warmly invited to attend this fond tribute to her charmed and charming life, and to enjoy a "martini-burger" or two in her memory. We're also hoping everyone will bring along and share their favorite "Ellie stories" from over the years, of which there's always seemed to be an endless supply. Please join with us in the many laughs and joyful remembrances of this extraordinary day!