Joan Barbara Sommer, 88 went to her heavenly home Friday, March 20th at Avera Bormann Manor in Parkston, SD. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, March 27th at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Parkston with Fr. Gary Derouchey officiating. Visitation will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday, March 26th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a liturgical wake and rosary starting at 7:00 p.m. Interment will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery following the service. A time for fellowship and luncheon will be held following the burial at Sacred Heart Parish Hall.

Joanie was born April 7, 1937 to Frank and Marie (Nuebel) Mechtenberg in Parkston, SD. She joined two older brothers John and Fran. She grew up on the farm and enjoyed spending time with her brothers and being the only daughter. She spent many hours playing on the farm with her cousin Sr. Carol Mechtenberg. She attended and graduated from Parkston High School in 1955. She worked for a few years in the ASC office in Parkston after graduation. She was united in marriage to James “Jim” Sommer on February 8, 1958 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Parkston, SD. Together they welcomed and raised six children on the family farm. She raised and sold chickens, which included butchering every Saturday during the summer. She was well known for her delicious fried chicken dinner. She returned to the ASC/FHA office in 1978 for a total of 20 years. She enjoyed spending time with the office gals after retirement, which involved many laughs and shared memories after retiring from the ASC office. Joan worked part-time for Kenny’s catering as their salad maker and Sacred Heart parish as a cleaning lady. She enjoyed attending daily mass every morning at Sacred Heart Church as they just lived within walking distance right across the street. Joan's strong Catholic faith led her to be a member of Sacred Heart Parish Altar Society and Catholic Daughters of America in Parkston for many years. Joanie and Jim enjoyed their retirement fishing days, especially at the West River dugouts many times catching their limit of bluegill and perch. Joanie enjoyed rummaging and joining all her garage sale friends as they found all their treasures. She always looked forward to a good garage sale. Jim and Joan enjoyed the company of their two mischievous cats, Tommy and Mugsy after they moved to town. She also loved to play sequence with the grandkids, a good movie and pizza night or just working on a new puzzle. In her early years, Jim and Joanie enjoyed dancing at polka festivals with their friends. She loved baking the best homemade bread for her family and eating it. She always said that that’s why God gave her her right hand so she could eat her favorite food, bread. She was well known for bringing lemon bars and deviled eggs to funerals at Sacred Heart Church. While she was still able, she made denim jean quilts for her grandchildren when they graduated from high school. Jim and Joan were married for 61 years before Jim’s passing in September 2019. Joan then moved to Mitchell in November 2019 residing at Countryside Living for the next four years. She was often known as their “welcome wagon” lady, as she knew everybody by name and greeted everyone with her contagious smile and laugh. She really blossomed when she moved there and enjoyed the many friends she made while living at Countryside Living. Our Joanie will always be known for her biggest and brightest smile, and for being a very loving mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughters: Cindy (Dave) Schoenfelder of Parkston, SD; Cathy (Stewart) Schipke of Aberdeen, SD; Carol (Jim) Tschetter of Huron, SD; Carla (Tyler) Marken of Aberdeen, SD; sons: Glen (DeVonne) Sommer of Mitchell, SD and Greg Sommer of Marshfield, WI; brother Fran Mechtenberg of Parkston, SD. Sisters in law: Mary Jane Mechtenberg of Parkston, SD; Anita Sommer of Mitchell, SD; Grandchildren: Eric, Teressa, Cory, Tara, Nick, Cade, Brook, Austin, Abby, Laura, Katelyn, Eilert, Levi and Ashton. Great-grandchildren: Lexi, Easton, Tierney, Trinn, Noah, Styerling, Eva, Isabelle, Owen, Haley, Ellie, Kye, Declan, Rory and Riley; Great-great-grandchildren: Leonel and Emilia; and Special first cousin Sr. Carol Mechtenberg.

She was preceded in death by her husband James, infant son Gerard, her parents Frank and Marie Mechtenberg, mother and father in law, Henry and Josephine Sommer, brother John Mechtenberg, sister and brother in laws; Joyce Mechtenberg, Frank and Phyllis Stadlman, Bernie and Lorraine Fischer, and Ronnie Sommer.

Thank you to all the staff at Avera Bormann Manor for taking such good care of our dear Joanie.

We are forever grateful.