Obituary of Loraine Thaler

THALER LORAINE

Loraine R. Thaler, age 91 of Yankton, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD.  Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Monday, July 1, 2024, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Jacob Bobby officiating.  Burial will be in the ZCBJ Cemetery, Wagner, SD at approximately 12:30 PM.  Visitations will be from 3 to 5 PM, Sunday, June 30, 2024, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with a Scripture service at 5:00 PM.  Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.  Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. 

Born on a homestead in Delmont, South Dakota, 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, SD, Kathryn (Dave) Greeneway of Yankton, SD, and Sherry Thaler of Yankton, SD; 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. Her family invites you to join them in celebrating her life and the joy she brought to this world.