JOANNE BRYAN (1934-2004)

went to work as a ranch hand in the White River area. Their first child, Brenda Lea was born followed a year later by Bradley Eric. Charles opted to return to college and complete hisdegree,sothefamilymoved to Springfield. M. Christine and D. Corinn were born during this time. Upon graduation, the family moved to Menomonie,WIwhereCharles studiedandreceivedaMaster’s Degree in Education. Joanne helped Charles by typing and proofing his work.

Armed with his degree Charles obtained his first teaching job in Niles Township in the Chicago area. The family moved to Skokie, IL. The kids were starting school. Joanne continued to work as a housewife.

Then the opportunity arose to return to South Dakota. The family returned to Springfield where Charles began teaching Auto Mechanics at Southern State Teachers College. The kids were now all in school and Joanne had the opportunity to go back to school herself. She completed her degree in Business Education. After graduation,shewenttoworkas a professional secretary on the Southern State campus.

Joanne joined the Order of theEasternStarinWhiteRiver Chapter #126. After settling in Springfield Charles and Joanne joinedRachelChapter#11 wheresheservedinmostoffices including Worthy Matron. In 1972 she served as Grand Adah in the Grand Chapter of South Dakota. Her membership then

on

On September 27, 2004, Joanne Bryan, aged 90, was finallyatpeace. Sheendured several serious illnesses in the last years including a debilitating stroke which robbed her of her ability to speak, which was doubly hardbecausesheenjoyedvisiting withpeople. However,it did not slow her down much as she continued to talk and talk and talk.

Born in March of 1934 on her grandparents’ ranch south of Pierre to Don and Helen. Her first home was a farm in the Presho area at the end of the depression. The farm failed three years runningsothefamilymoved into Oneida where Don and his brother-in-law, Mike Quimbystartedagasstation. Joanne was an only child, so Mike’s children (David Quimby (Georgia) and Ruth Ann Thornton (California)) became more like siblings than cousins.

Business was still slow, so Donappliedtoanoilcompany that wanted to open several new stores. They elected to move to White River and opened a primarily bulk delivery service which provided gasoline throughout Mellette County. As a result, Helen and Joanne (when she was old enough) ran the gas station while Don made the deliveries. It later became the Frontier Oil Company and remained that until Don and Helen retired.

Joanne completed all 12 grades in White River. In high school she met her husband, Charles Edward Bryan, in July of 1952. Charles had just completed basic training in Texas and was being stationed in Germany aspartoftheoccupationforces. Joanne was able to join him in Germany where they set up house with a German family and lived for a year. During that year they were abletotravelalloverEurope. This became an extended honeymoon.

Upon return to the States, Charles was discharged and moved to Keystone Chapter #37 in Yankton where she servedasSecretaryformany years. Finally, she joined Armour Star Chapter #64. She was a 54-year member.

When Southern, then the University of South Dakota at Springfield, closed, Joanne and Charles moved to Emmetsburg, IA where Charles continued to teach. Attending auction sales was a favorite past time of the couple. One day when they were visiting from Iowa, there was a big sale in Avon which included a house. On a lark they attended as there were some interesting teapots listed on the sale bill. At the end of the sale, the couple was the proud owner of their current home.

They spent many weekends travelingbetweenIowa andAvonfixingupthehouse, attending sales to furnish the house, and enjoying themselves. Whenworkwas completed, they retired and became residents in their new home in Avon.

InhercommunityJoanne served on the Library Board to establish the Avon Public Library. She was also Secretary Treasurer of the FirstPresbyterianChurchin Avonformanyyearsandwas anactivememberofPBW. In her latter years she enjoyed watchingchurchserviceson Facebook.

She is predeceased by her parents, aunts and uncles, oneson-in-law,andonegreat granddaughter. She leaves her husband Charles (Avon); herchildren:Brenda(Avon), Brad and Cathy (Missouri), Chris (Avon), and Corinn Harnisch(Yankton);5grandchildren: Becky (Minnesota), Janelle and Chris Satterwhite (Iowa), Curtis and Caroline Olsen; Justin and Kristine Harnisch (Sioux Falls), and Jason and Jacquline Harnisch(Nebraska); 13 great grandchildren; and 4great-greatgrandchildren.

Services will be held at a much later date.