Loretta Margaret Wermers, 97 of Spearfish, and formerly of Lead, passed away in Spearfish on December 17, 2012.
Loretta was born on October 28, 1915 to Margaret (Roth) and Peter Weins in Brule County, SD. She grew up on a farm in Davison County (Mitchell, SD). She graduated in June of 1930. She met the love of her life, Joseph Wermers, and they were married on July 4, 1932. To this union 14 children were born. They farmed until they moved to Lead in the middle of a blizzard in January 1948, and continued to live there until moving to Spearfish in 2000. She worked for many years as a cook at Western Drug and then worked at the Lead Bakery until it closed. She then went at work at Black Hills Special Services, a job she dearly loved. She worked until she was 85 and was reluctant to quit even then. She was well known for her cooking and baking and her love of kids. She went home to be with her family and the Lord on December 17, 2012.
She is survived by 5 sons: Marvin (Kay) Spearfish, Pat (Roxie) Spearfish, Terry (Joy) Lead, Allan Rapid City, Neal Spearfish; and 4 daughters: Shirley (Fred) Byrum Midland, TX., Joyce Kluthe Spearfish, Patricia (Bill) Robinson Spearfish, Barbara (Terry) Biel Lead; 36 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, a few great-great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-great-grandchild; 1 brother: Eddie Weins Mitchell; 2 sisters: Adala Graff Chicago, Alberta Baldwin Mitchell, and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband Joseph, and daughters Phyllis Phelps, Doris Antuna, Elaine Fifer, and Linda Wetz; Grandsons Jon Wermers and Billy Joe Robinson; son-in-laws Jim Kluthe, Earl Phelps, and Wayne Helms; daughter-in-law Alice Wermers; sisters Caroline Hohn and Sally Johnson and brother Alois Weins.
Visitation will be from 5-7 P.M., Friday, December 21, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lead. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, December 22, 2012 at the church with Fr. Kerry Prendiville officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lead.