JoAnn R. (Tapken) Armstrong, 84, of Sioux Falls, passed away on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, at Sanford USD Medical Center. 

A memorial visitation will be held at the Inwood, Iowa, Community Center, 103 South Main St, Inwood, IA, 51240 on Sunday, Aug. 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. Burial will be at a later date at the Black Hills National Cemetery. 

JoAnn was born to Henry and Pearl Tapken on Feb. 10, 1938, in Mitchell.  She grew up in Letcher and attended General Beadle Teachers College in Madison. JoAnn married Lawrance (Lonny) Armstrong on Aug. 14, 1960, in Letcher. They started their married life in Sioux City, Iowa, where their only child, Paula Jean, was born. Lonny worked for Montgomery Ward and the family moved dozens of times for his job. JoAnn loved to crochet, sew and do puzzles. She dearly loved her grandchildren.

JoAnn is survived by her daughter, Paula (Lowell) Bosler of Alvord, Iowa; three grandchildren; her sister, Jean McClane of Letcher; her brother, Jay Tapken of Sioux Falls; and several nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lonny, and her parents, Hank and Pearl Tapken.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorials be given in JoAnn’s honor to be designated at a later date to commemorate JoAnn’s love of teaching and education. 

Information can also be found at www.heritagesfsd.com.  

Karen Kogel, 70, of rural Woonsocket, passed away Thursday, Aug. 4, at Avera Weskota Memorial Hospital in Wessington Springs from a car accident.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m. in the St. Wilfrid Catholic Church, Woonsocket. Visitation is Friday, Aug. 12, 5-7 p.m. at the church, with  prayer service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in St. Wilfrid Catholic Cemetery, Fr. Kevin Doyle officiating.

Karen was born Jan. 13, 1952, to Lewis and Charlotte (Hopkins) Carpenter Jr. in Danville, Ill. She graduated from Rockville Indiana High School in 1970. After graduation, Karen moved to Wessington Springs, where she met David Kogel. They were united in marriage on July 8, 1972, at St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket. Shortly after, they moved to the family farm west of Woonsocket, where they raised their four children. While raising their four children and working on the farm, Karen also worked at Prairie View Care Center, owned Karen’s Kitchen and worked at Van Dykes. After retiring, Karen loved spending most of her time taking care of her grandchildren. Karen loved to read, bake, garden and do crafts. Karen was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 29 in Woonsocket.

She is survived by her husband, David; her children, Michael (Sheri) of Woonsocket, Brian of Madison, Danny (Tara) of Huron, and Amy of Stanly, N.D.; six grandchildren; three half-brothers, two half-sisters and various aunts, uncles and cousins.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law and various aunts and uncles.

Rita Weber, 84, of Mitchell, died Monday, July 25, 2022, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell. 

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, July 28, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation was Wednesday, July 27, at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a scripture service. 

Rita Weber was born May 18, 1938, on the family farm outside Emery to John and Josephine Berg. She grew up in Emery and graduated from Emery High School in 1956.

Rita married Jerome Weber on May 2, 1959, in a double wedding ceremony with Virgil Weber and Eleanor Berg.

Rita worked as a telephone operator in Emery from 1956-1959. Rita also worked as a school secretary, teacher’s aide, and for 23 years as a medication aide at Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket. After moving to Mitchell, she worked an additional 17 years as a home health aide. She enjoyed taking pictures, playing cards, playing bingo, visiting casinos, and spending time with her family.

Rita is survived by her husband, Jerome Weber; son, Kevin (Cindy) Weber of Rochester, Minn.; three grandchildren; siblings, Regina Nolz of Mitchell, Eleanor Weber of Spearfish, and Gerald Berg of Mitchell.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Raymond Berg and John Berg.

Arrangements are by Bittner Funeral Chapel.