LORAINE THALER

Loraine R. Thaler, age 91 of Yankton, passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 26, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton. Funeral services were held Monday, July 1 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Yankton, with Rev. Jacob Bobby officiating. Burial was in the ZCBJ Cemetery, Wagner. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at: www. opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

Born on a homestead in Delmont, to Lydia and Joseph Lehrkamp, Loraine was a beacon of light and laughter to all who knew her.

From her early years attending country school to her baptism at the Zion Lutheran Church—a place of worship her father helped build—Loraine’s life was one of community and faith. Her work ethic shone through her service at Wally and Colleen Schild’s Café, in Delmont, and over 25 years at the Dante Bar, where she was a familiar and beloved face.

Loraine’s life was a dance of joy and love, quite literally, as she met her husband, John, at a dance in Delmont. They married on Valentine’s Day in 1954.

She was well known for her clean house, special rohlickies, potato dumplings and dill soup. Loraine’s sense of humor and knack for card games made her a lifelong member of the Dante Card Club. Above all, her greatest love was her family, and she took immense pride in sharing their lives and accomplishments with others.

Loraine was preceded in death by her husband, John Thaler; her parents, Lydia and Joseph Lehrkamp; her brother, Norbert Lehrkamp; her grandson, Dennis Semmler; and her niece, Pat Ensenbach.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter in her three daughters, Vicky (Gunther) Kondert of Sioux Falls, Kathryn (Dave) Greeneway of Yankton, and Sherry Thaler of Yankton; her grandchildren, Jenny (Bill) Kurtz, Katie and Evan Greeneway; her great-grandchildren, Autumn and Ainsley Kurtz and her nephew, Ronald Ensenbach.

Loraine’s memory will be cherished and kept alive through the stories and smiles she shared.