RAPID CITY - Ethel Johanna Basler 89 of Rapid City passed away on December 16, 2008 at Clarkson Mountain View Nursing Home, Rapid City. Ethel was born on December 19, 1918 on the family homestead near Hilland, South Dakota. She was the fourth of six children born to Mikal and Eline (Redfield) Krogstrand. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church at Hilland. Ethel graduated from Phillip High School in Phillip, South Dakota at age 16 and moved to Rapid City to attend Black Hills Business College. Following school, she made her home in Rapid City, where she married Sterling A. (Jim) Basler on June 29, 1941, at Trinity Lutheran Church. During WW2 Ethel worked for the government as a bookkeeper at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Following the war, she and Jim opened the Basler Publishing Company in Rapid City, where she was the bookkeeper. In l951 Jim was recalled into the United States Air Force, and though Rapid City remained their legal home, they were stationed at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, California, and Loring Air Force Base at Presque Isle, Maine. During her years as an Air Force wife, Ethel became a Master Bridge player and a Mah-Jongg champion, as well as an avid gardener. Ethel and Jim retired in Rapid City in 1968 where they remained for the rest of their lives. Survivors include her four children Patricia Black of Rapid City, Kathleen McCauley of Clovis, CA, Barbara Bozung of Great Falls, MT, and James Basler of Hayden, Idaho. She is survived by nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. She is also survived by her younger brothers Orien Michael Krogstrand of Rapid City, South Dakota and Kermit Allen Krogstrand of Clarksville, Iowa, Ethel was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sterling A. Basler, three sisters, Dorothy Urban, Denver, CO, Ella Mae Lee Carr of Seattle, WA, and Julianna Tudy Dugan of Rapid City, SD Visitation will be held Thursday, December 18, 2008 from 4:00 until 6:00pm at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, Rapid City. Services will be held 10:30 AM, Friday at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with Rev. Kenneth Urban officiating. Interment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery. Memorials have been established to Hospice of the Hills, Clarkson Mt View Nursing Home Activities fund and Alzheimers Research. Friends may sign her online guest book and offer condolences at www.osheimschmidt.com.