91
Alcester
June 11, 2025
JoAnn Kjose , 91, of Alcester, SD, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded by her family after a brief illness.
Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 16, 2025 at Brule Creek Lutheran Church in rural Elk Point, SD. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation with the family present will begin at 6:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Brule Creek Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice in her memory.
JoAnn Betty Parker was born on July 28, 1933, to Lone and Irene (Miller) Parker in Akron, IA. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron, IA where she was baptized and confirmed. She attended country school at Pleasant Ridge #19 in Union County, South Dakota. JoAnn graduated from Akron High School in 1951 and began working for Rosella Anderson in Sioux City, IA cooking and cleaning for the family. She married Dennis Kjose on September 12, 1952 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron, IA. She worked in Hawarden at Otis Radio Factory for a few years before staying home on the farm. Together, Dennis and JoAnn built a life on their family farm south of Alcester, raising dairy cattle and farming. JoAnn milked cows for many years, raised chickens, maintained a vegetable garden, canned many vegetables, and put up a lot of freezer corn. She loved her flower gardens and spent many hours working in them.She always had fresh cut flowers in the house.
Through the years JoAnn enjoyed playing cards, bingo, puzzles, square dancing, quilting, embroidering, and crafting. In later years she enjoyed spending the winters in Arizona with Dennis. Baking was another one of her favorite pastimes, and there was rarely a time when her kitchen didn’t have cookies, bars, or cake ready to share. She loved her afternoon coffees with her girlfriends.
JoAnn was an active member of Brule Creek Lutheran Church since 1952, participating in the Ladies Aid and teaching Sunday School for many years. She also enjoyed studying God’s word at Brule Creek and Big Springs Bible Study Groups. She was also a member of the Cheerful Neighbors Club for many years.
Family was the center of JoAnn’s life. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, attending their events and celebrating their accomplishments.
JoAnn is survived by her children, Terry (Betty) Kjose of Alcester, SD; and Julie (Joe) Reuter of Six Mile, SC; her grandchildren: Jeremy (Kris) Kjose of Beresford, SD; Ashlee Reuter of Woodstock, GA; Eian Reuter of Woodstock, GA; and Noah Reuter of Easley, SC; and her great-grandchildren: Michael Kjose of Beresford, SD; Seth Kjose of Beresford, SD; and Ryker Creamer of Woodstock, GA; her sister, Norma Verdoorn of Highlands Ranch, CO; her brothers: Gordon (Pat) Parker of Merrill, IA; and Gary (Susie) Parker of Dakota Dunes, SD.
She now joins her husband, Dennis Kjose, and her parents, Lone and Irene Parker, in eternal peace. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.