RAPID CITY- Sister Celine Erk, 91, entered eternal life on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at St. Martins Monestary. She was born, Ida Ludwina, on June 27, 1920 to Ludwig and Anna Jestle Erk.. She was the oldest child of a family of five. She was raised on the family homestead north of Newell, SD. After graduating from Deermont country grade school, she attended High School at St. Martins Academy in Sturgis. Of her entrance into religious life at St. Martin Convent in 1938 she said, The convent just seemed like the perfect place for me to go on with my life. Thats where the Lord wanted me to be. I have always appreciated the deep faith that my parents gave me. She professed her perpetual vows on August 12, 1943. After studying elementary education at Mt. Marty College in Yankton, she taught in the Catholic Schools in Gregory, Deadwood, Bonesteel, Rapid City, Sturgis, and Lemmon. Her teaching career was interrupted for a one-year term as hospital administrator and religious superior at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Hot Springs. After her teaching years, she served as Business Manager of St. Martin Monastery from 1957 through 1965. For one year, 1966-1967, she was administrator of St. Josephs Hospital in Deadwood. She then held the office of Treasurer/Bookkeeper at the Monastery until 1974. In 1974, she went home to her family to care for her ailing mother who died in 1977. In 1978, she became secretary to the chancellor and marriage tribunal. She was holding that position when Bishop Charles Chaput appointed her as chancellor of the diocese in April, 1989. In a historical first, Sr. Celine was the first woman in the Rapid City Diocese to serve in the position of chancellor. In making the announcement, Bishop Chaput expressed his gratitude to the Benedictine Community of St. Martin for Sr. Celines years of service to the diocese. She has earned the respect of both the priests of the diocese and the people who work on the chancery staff. She has been a faithful member of the diocesan curia for many years. In 1995, Bishop Chaput presented Sr. Celine with the Pontifical honor, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, for serving the diocese generously in extraordinary ways. In requesting this honor from the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio, Bishop Chaput wrote, Sister Celine Erk is an extraordinary woman who has the deepest love and respect for the Holy Father and the Church and brings a balanced commitment to the role of women in the Church to our diocese. Throughout her religious life Sr. Celine took to heart the words of St. Benedict in his motto, Ora et Labora (to pray and to work), and she wore herself out attending to both. She is survived by a brother John (Mary) Erk of Newell, a sister Elizabeth (Neil) Chauney of Denison, TX, two sisters-in Law Helen (George) Erk of Newell and Violet (Joseph) Erk, Vale, SD; and many nieces and nephews, and all of her sisters at St. Martin Monestary. She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers George and Joe Erk; and nephew Tommy Erk. In lieu of flowers please gift your favorite charity, Terra Sancta or St. Martin Monastery in memory of Sr. Celine. Visitation will be at 5:30 p.m. with the Vigil starting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, August, 22, at St. Martin Monastery. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m, on August 23,. at Our Lady Chapel at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help with Bishop Robert Gruss presiding. Interment will follow at St. Martin Cemetery. There will be a reception following Burial at St. Martin Monastery dining room.