Jean Ellen Brakke

Jean Ellen Brakke, age 62, Sturgis, SD, formerly of Clark, died suddenly at her home in Sturgis on June 26, 2015. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 1:00 PM in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark with the Reverend Kathy Hibbert officiating. The organist will be Dorothy Fuller. A private burial will be held in the Vienna Lutheran Cemetery at Vienna. There will be no visitation. She was born on August 6, 1932 at Rugby, ND, the daughter of Edgar and Ruth (Skavang) Brakke. Jean lived in Dalton, MN, Clark, SD and recently in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She had a Bachelor's Degree in Education from SDSU at Brookings and had taught on the Pine Ridge Reservation. She moved from Clark to the Black Hills about 17 years ago where she bought a small acreage outside of Sturgis. Jean enjoyed photography, worked at a book store, boarded horses and provided shelter for numerous cats. She was a free spirited person who lived as she wished. She will be missed by her relatives and many friends she made along her voyage. May she find peace and rest with those who have gone before her. Jean is survived by her sister, Darla (Buck) Menssen of Afton, MN, two aunts, Dorothy Petersen and June Smith, a nephew, Michael (Juli) Menssen, niece, Pam (John) Patterman and their children, Jackson, Mitchel, Andrew, Ryan, Dominick, Katie and Ellie. Preceding her in death were her parents and a brother, Marshall. Memorials wold be preferred in lieu of flowers. Memorials can be directed to the St. Paul Lutheran Church, memorial trust fund at 301. S. Smith Street, Clark, SD 57225 The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com