Effie Rebecca Lopez was born April 17, 1934 in Eagle Butte, SD to Albert and Luvisa (Pelter) Lopez. She attended country school in the Eagle Butte and Timber Lake areas as well as one year at the Timber Lake Catholic School and her eighth grade year was spent at the Philip Public School. Effie graduated from Eagle Butte High School in 1952. Following High School Effie attended Ball State Teachers College in Indiana where she received her teaching credentials. Her first teaching job was at Ridgeview, SD. On December 27, 1953 Effie married Geno Hunt at Pierre, SD. Following their marrieage Effie continued to teach while Geno returned to Germany to finish his service to the Army. Following his discharge they moved to Belle Fourche, SD were Effie taught school and Geno attended Black Hills State Teachers College. They then taught in Meteetse, WY and Plevna, MT. In 1962 they moved to the Cottonwood Ranch south of Eagle Butte with their two young sons Jeff and Jim, where they lived and ranched for the past 44 years. In 1964 Effie got a teaching job at Eagle Butte and also started taking summer classes at BHSC to complete her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. She started teaching in the Midland School System in 1982 and taught there until her retirement in 2000. While teaching Effie continued to go to summer school and obtained her Masters Degree in 1990 from USD in Vermillion.
Effie spent her retirement years at the ranch busier than ever, fixing her yard and house and taking part in all her families' activities. She loved to stay in touch with family, old friends and former students and attended many weddings, funeral, graduations and anniversaries.
Effie is survived by her husband of Fifty-two years Geno, sons Jeff (Mitzi) Hunt of Dupree, SD and Jim (Joni) Hunt of Faith, SD, grandchildren Jody, J.J., Jakki, Tom, Jessica, Justin, Josh, Jordan, Jeb, Jana, J.T. (Jeno), Jimmie Jean Hunt. Two sisters Anna Belle (Sam) Mortenson of McLaughlin SD, Lucille Kaiser Reid, of Bemidji, MN and one brother Lee Lopez of Meadow, SD; mother-in-law Jennie Hunt of Eagle Butte, SD; and a special nephew John Lopez of Rapid City, SD, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and beloved friends, neighbors and 38 years of students.
Effie was preceded in death by her parents, an infant and one brother Carl Kaiser.
