Obituary of Betty Ann Kocer

Betty Ann Kocer, age 91, of Tabor, formerly of Dante and Mitchell, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2014 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Friday, May 23, 2014 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Tabor with Rev. Steven Jones and Msgr. Carlton Hermann officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitations will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday, May 22, 2014 at the Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Tabor with a wake service at 7:00 PM followed by a Rosary. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Betty was born November 19, 1922 on a farm northeast of Tyndall to Stiny and Agnes (Such) Carda. She went to Stekly School, then her parents moved to a farm southwest of Tabor where she attended Bon Homme School and Tabor High School. She worked in Omaha, NE for three years and married Sylvester Kocer of Dante in 1945. While living in Dante, she belonged to the Altar Society and taught 6th grade CCD class for eight years. They lived on a farm for 27 years before moving to Mitchell in 1973. While living in Mitchell, she did restaurant work and worked at St. Joseph's Hospital. She belonged to Holy Spirit Church and was active in church activities: Lay Minister and lector, Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of America, American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary. In 2005, she was named Legionette of the Year. She loved her flowers and garden, was involved with volunteer work, and was always smiling. She loved to be with people, especially working at the Corn Palace for basketball games, wrestling matches and baseball games. They moved to Tabor where she was active in the Altar Society, American Legion Auxiliary, Chamber of Commerce, Senior Citizens, and volunteered with the Catholic Workman. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Mike) Snell of Champaign, IL; grandsons, Michael and Charlie Snell, both of Champaign, IL; four sisters: Anne Ulmer of Yankton, SD, Agnes (George) Kocer and Irene Kocer, both of Tabor, SD, and Alice Rothchadl of Mankato, MN; 15 Godchildren, and many, many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sylvester, parents: sisters, Nettie Carda, Vincie Adams and Mary Cap.