Tootie was born on her family farm in Hadley on January 1, 1929, to Gilbert and Edith (Swanson) Molitor. She attended rural school at District 66 and graduated from Slayton High School in 1946. She worked as a waitress, clerk and nurse’s aide in the Slayton Home Hospital. On November 27, 1947, she was united in marriage to Walter Metz at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Slayton. The couple lived in the U.S. Naval base in San Francisco, CA, until Walt was discharged from the Navy in 1948. The couple returned to Tootie’s home farm for a time before buying a farm in Lake Sarah Township where they raised their family. Due to health reasons, the couple sold the farm and moved to Marshall where Tootie provided daycare and did some sewing. She later worked at the lunch room at Marshall High School. She enjoyed sewing, canning, knitting, crocheting, gardening, electronics and family gatherings. She also enjoyed helping others. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Tootie died on Thursday, May 15, 2014, at the Sanford Health Center in Sioux Falls, SD. She is survived by her children; Susan (and Jerry) Edwards, Larry Metz, John (and Nelda) Metz, Daniel Metz and Robin Metz, grandchildren; Michael, Craig (and Wendy) Metz, Jodi (and Curtis Shoemake), Jason Metz, Ben Bengtson and Lexy Bengtson, great-grandchildren Alissyn Metz, Tate Bohannon and Trey Bohannon, step-grandchildren; Tylar Noyes, Tyler Bohannon, Daniel Shoemake, Lauren Shoemake, Janelle Shoemake, step great-grandchildren; Asher Shoemake and Avery Shoemake, one sister Clarice “Bubs†(and Marty) Bujnowski, special “adopted grandchild†Travis Miller, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter, brother William “Buck†Molitor, twin granddaughters in infancy.
