Alma Mae Laumer, 96, formerly of Spearfish, died on October 2, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Lennox, SD. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held October 24, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Spearfish, SD. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Spearfish.

Alma Mae Janke was born August 31,1922, at the prairie home of her parents, Edward and Theresa (Trinklebach) Janke, near Sulphur, South Dakota. Growing up the third of six daughters, from the age of twelve she lived with and worked for various families in the area. She graduated from Newell High School in 1940. She attended the National College of Business and worked at Tri-State Mill in Rapid City.

On December 23, 1941, she married Bernard Laumer in a double wedding with her sister, Norine and Alex Carswell. Alma and Bernard were blessed with four children: Lynn, Jack, Joel and Jill. Alma was a partner in all aspects of a busy farm life. Their home was filled with love, music, laughter and was a place where family celebrations and holidays are remembered as happy occasions. She was always ready with a fresh batch of oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookies or a chocolate sheet cake, which the boys and their dad devoured during their afternoon breaks from their work in the fields or with the cattle or sheep. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Newell.

In 1973, they moved to Spearfish where her home and garden were a great joy to her. In the summer, her children and grandchildren enjoyed the fresh vegetables and fruit from her garden. Alma put all of the energy that she brought with her from the farm into doing good for others. When her family came to visit, or she visited them, everyone expected big batches of her caramel rolls and big pots of chicken and noodles. She baked pies for bazaars, sewed dresses for her daughter and her granddaughters, sewed quilts and knitted and crocheted afghans for her grandchildren when they graduated from high school, constructed cherished Christmas stockings for each member of the family, and, for over 30 years tatted Christmas tree ornaments for her family and friends, each year with a new design! For several years, she also worked as a seamstress, doing alterations for hundreds of customers in the Spearfish area.

Her love for her Lord and Savior resulted in active membership at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. She worked part-time as church secretary and was a devoted member of the ladies' quilting group. The gift of family and friendships made throughout her life brought her immense joy. Her faith in God brought her reassurance and comfort, especially during the past five years.

Alma is survived by two sons and her daughter; Jack (De Anne) Laumer of San Marcos, TX; Joel (Rita) Laumer of Lennox, S.D; Jill Laumer Sand of Tucson, AZ; daughter-in-law Karen Laumer of Spearfish, SD; former daughter-in-law Diane Laumer; ten grandchildren: Tracy Laumer Jepson, Karlie Laumer, Anne (Charles) Law, Kurt Laumer, Jason (Sara) Laumer, Kjersti (Scott) Deckert, Peder Laumer, Zoe, Cassidy and Sophie Sand; 11 great-grandchildren: Christopher and Steffan Jepson, Atarah and McKael Law, Abigail, Ethan, Isaac, Caden and Tyler Laumer, Norah and Maren Deckert; two sisters: Lola (Kenny) Pascoe, Spearfish, Betty Dahlberg, The Dalles, OR; sister-in-law: Pauline Smith, Newell, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Alma was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Bernard; a son, Lynn; and sisters, Elvera Minty, Norine Carswell, and Marian Winkler.

Memorials may be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Spearfish, SD. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Lennox, SD and Compassionate Care Hospice for the loving care given to Alma. There are, indeed, angels among us.