Jane Gerhardt

Mary Genevieve (Jane) Gerhardt, age 88, formerly of Clark, died on January 10, 2015 at a care center in Peoria, Arizona. A Celebration of Life service and rosary will be held on Monday, July 6, 2015 at 10:30 AM at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel in Clark, South Dakota with the Permanent Deacon Peter Mehlhaff officiating and Dorothy Fuller as pianist. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Cemetery at Clark. Jane was born in Farmer, SD on August 14, 1926 to Peter & Rose (Fellenz) Schladweiler. She graduated from Farmer High School in 1944. After graduation, she moved to Oakland, CA where she worked for the Social Security Administration. She later moved to Minneapolis, MN to attend business school. On November 28, 1946, she was united in marriage to James L. Gerhardt in Farmer. They moved to Bruce, SD and later to Clark, SD, where they raised their six children. Jane worked as a substitute rural letter carrier for several years. Her primary duty, however, was her service and devotion to her family, her church and her community. Jane was very active in St. Michael's Catholic Church and Altar Society, and was a member and past president of the Clark American Legion Auxiliary and the Clark Women's National Catholic Society of Foresters. She also served as an active member of the South Dakota Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary and the Clark Golf Club. A lifelong interest in politics led Jane to serve several years as chairwoman of the Clark County Democrat Party, including as a candidate for the South Dakota legislature. Remembered by many for her beautiful voice, she began singing in church choirs in second grade, a ministry that lasted nearly her entire life. Jane loved music and dancing, sharing her talent in Clark community musicals. Her appreciation for the arts was ever-present, and has been passed to subsequent generations. Jane's greatest pleasure was her children. Her undying devotion to them manifested itself in countless ways. She rarely missed one of their school activities. Whether it was academics, music, drama or sports, she was always available to study for a test, rehearse lines or provide accompaniment in preparation for the big day. Until the end, she never stopped supporting them. In addition to golfing in the Clark Golf Club women's league, Jane loved the intellectual stimulation of bridge, and she played in numerous groups through the years. Her quick wit and pleasant nature earned her the affection and respect of those in her presence. Always known by her family and friends as a wonderful cook, Jane was an exceptional baker, and was proud to claim "Best of Show" for her Dagmar white cake at the South Dakota State Fair, as well as a purple ribbon for her cinnamon rolls. Her children's friends always knew they were welcome to raid the cookie jar of her famous chocolate chip cookies. Following the death of Jim in 1986, Jane was united in marriage to Harland Palmquist in September 1988. They lived briefly in Sioux Falls, and then moved to Mesa, AZ where they enjoyed life in the Leisure World retirement community. There, she and Harland were active in the Leisure World chorus, golf and other social activities for several years. She remained involved with church organizations in Mesa and Glendale. Harland died in 1996 & Jane kept active in her Mesa community until moving to an apartment in Glendale, AZ. For the past 3 years, she resided at a care center in Peoria, AZ. Jane touched countless lives with her church, community and civic involvement, and it was through those activities that she forged and nurtured the many close friendships that have endured across the years and across the miles. Just as importantly, she and Jim taught their children the importance of volunteerism, a lesson that persists in many ways. Jane is survived by her children JoAnn (Michael) Durishin, Arlington, VA; James P., Buena Vista, CO; Thomas (Lynda), Glendale, AZ; Kathleen (Mark) Masters, Centennial, CO; & Mark (Charlotte), Sioux Falls, SD; 9 grandchildren, & 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by Harland's sons, Eric (Pierrette) Palmquist, Traverse City, MI; David Palmquist, Mesa, AZ & their families, as well as one sister, Rita Cook, Remsen, IA. Preceding Jane in death were her parents; two brothers and two sisters; her husbands, James & Harland; her daughter, Barbara Ritterbusch Haberman; a son-in-law, David Ritterbusch; a grandson, James Lucus Gerhardt; and David's wife, Mary Palmquist. To honor Jane and to assist the missions of two important causes, memorials can be directed to either the Greater Clark Area Community Foundation, PO Box 298, Clark, SD 57225, or to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul %St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6180 West Utopia Rd., Glendale, AZ 85308 Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com