Lois I. (Williams) Giesler
Lois I. (Williams) Giesler, age 100, of Salem, S.D., passed away on November 9th at Golden Living Center in Salem where she had lived for the past 3 years. Funeral services were Friday, December 2, 2016 at Unite Church in Salem. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery at Sturgis, SD at a later date.
Lois was born on May 12th, 1916 in Perkins County on the family homestead north of Faith, SD to Fred B. and Connetha (Hakenstad) Williams. Lois attended country school in Perkins County, graduated from Faith High School in 1935, and graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD with degrees in social science, home ec. and commercial business. Lois taught school in Farnhamville, Pilot Mound and Ashton, IA as well as Salem High School and Farmer, SD. Lois taught Special Education at the “School of Hope” in Salem, which was sponsored by the Salem Study Club, from ‘65-’69.
Lois married her childhood Faith neighbor, Carl H. Giesler in a ceremony at the United Methodist Church Chapel in Rapid City, SD on June 5th, 1946. Lois and Carl settled into Salem, SD buying a house on north main that she lived in for 53 years, raising their 3 daughters. Lois through the years was a Girl Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, a volunteer at Colonial Manor for over 30 years and delivered “Meal on Wheels” well into her 90’s. She belonged to Rebekah Lodge, Salem Study Club, Extension Club, Women’s Church Circle, American Legion Auxiliary, Salem Senior Citizens and the Salem United Church.
Her favorite things were her family, friends, her church family, her piano, sewing machine, many scrapbooks of travel, embroidery, reading a wealth of books, her newspaper, stopping for pie and coffee, years of travel adventures with husband Carl (1993) and then with her niece Kerry and sister Phyllis.
Lois is survived by her daughters, Carol and Ken Sabers of Sturgis, Connie and Mike Bridges of Hereford, TX, and Joann and Dean Koch of Salem; seven grandchildren, Shelly Nelson, Scott Sabers, Chris Hart, Nathan Bridges, John Koch, Douglas Koch and Daniel Koch; 17 great-grandchildren and her sister Phyllis Britton of Rapid City, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl, her sister and husband, Mavis and Harvey VanBeek, a brother-in-law, Creighton Britton, in-laws, Darrell and Marg Giesler, John and Jean Giesler, and Bette and Bill Degan.
Lois asked that her family have the memorials directed to the Golden Living Volunteers in Salem and Salem United Church(Unite Church).
