Bessie Lorraine (Palmer) Koepsell

Bessie Lorraine Koepsell, 82, of Canova, passed away on Monday, July 24, 2017, at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 11am, Thursday, July 27, 2017 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Canova, South Dakota, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation at Immanuel Lutheran Church, will be Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 5pm with a Prayer service at 7pm. Bessie Lorraine Palmer was born November 12, 1934 at Webster, South Dakota to Frank and Lelah (Glessner) Palmer. When she was one-year old, the family moved to Canova, where she attended school and graduated from the Canova High School in 1952. As a young girl, Lorraine worked in the grocery store and café in Canova. Lorraine was united in marriage to Robert Koepsell on June 28, 1953 at the Canova Congregational Church. The couple then farmed near Canova, retiring from farming and moving into Canova in 1995. Robert passed away on February 3, 1996. After Bob’s death, Lorraine worked as a greeter and information supervisor at the Salem I-90 rest area. After her retirement, she especially enjoyed attending her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s activities. Up until her death she remained active in her church and community. Lorraine was an avid Canova Gang baseball fan and enjoyed reading books, putting jigsaw puzzles together and had many good friends to play cards and games with. Lorraine was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Canova/Epiphany Senior Citizens, Canova Legion Auxiliary, Miner County Red Hatter’s, Thursday morning coffee club and Canova Community Club. Those grateful for having shared in her life include her sons: Stanley (Pat Eich) Koepsell of Canova, SD; Loren (Linda Esser) Koepsell of Sioux Falls, SD; Keith (Trudy Kittelson) Koepsell of Apple Valley, MN; seven grandchildren Kari Gosmire, Colin Koepsell, Nick Koepsell, Chelsea Mann, Shannon Koepsell, Ethan Koepsell, Austin Koepsell; seven great grandchildren Cassidy Gosmire, Halle Schulz, Bobby Koepsell, Vivian Koepsell, Kenedy Koepsell, Luke Koepsell, Cooper Koepsell; a sister: Lucille Palmer (Mohn) of Sun City, AZ; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob, a granddaughter Allison, two brothers Bruce and Jack, a sister Betty, a step-father Floyd Johnston and a half-brother Gene.

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