Carmelita Frances Sauer

Mass of Christian Burial for Carmelita Frances Sauer will be Monday, October 2, 2023, at 10:30 A.M. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Ipswich, SD with Father Timothy Cone officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Ipswich, SD.

Visitation will be Sunday, October 1, 2023, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. followed by a Liturgical Wake Service with Rosary at 7:00 P.M. at Schriver Funeral Home, 720 N 6th Street, Ipswich SD.

Carmelita was born on April 30, 1942, in Redfield, South Dakota to Mattias and Doris (Young) Thomas.  She was the youngest of two children.  Her family lived in Zell, SD until the age of 4, when she moved to Barnard, SD.  At a young age, she boarded and attended Holy Cross Catholic School through sixth grade.  She graduated from Bowdle High School in 1961. After graduation, she attended the Aberdeen School of Commerce and then returned to Bowdle where she worked at Bowdle Hardware.

Carmelita was united in marriage to Dennis Melvin Sauer on June 20, 1963.  Upon marriage, she moved to Roscoe, SD where she spent most of her life farming with Dennis and the family.  Four children were born to Carmelita and Dennis:   Mark on November 18, 1964, Darwin on April 24, 1967, Brian on July 9, 1969, and Denise on May 2, 1974. Carmelita was frequently found milking cows, caring for animals, and doing other farm tasks while caring for and raising her family.  As the children grew older, she worked in the Ipswich Colonial Manor and the Assisted Living Center in Roscoe.  She spent ten years working at Kessler’s Deli in Aberdeen and retired in 2008 as a Chinese cook.  

Carmelita was a wonderful cook.  She enjoyed baking bread; some of the best bread in the state.  Recently her bread was awarded one of the top breads at the SD State Fair.  She loved to entertain and cook meals for her family. For large gatherings, it wasn’t uncommon for the whole countertop to be filled with pies of your choice.  She enjoyed entertaining guest hunters, hosting families, grandkids, and friends.  Whenever grandkids visited, they were offered cookies, brownies or whatever treat she made.  A special treat was toasted homemade bread with homemade strawberry rhubarb jelly.

Carmelita was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Roscoe and a member of the Altar Society and Catholic Daughters.  She became a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Ipswich shortly after moving to her retirement home in Ipswich, SD. Carmelita said her prayers every night before bed. She raised her family Catholic, ensuring they received a Catechism Catholic education.

Carmelita passed away peacefully at Avera St. Luke's with family at her side on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at the age of 81. 

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 60 years, Dennis, and her children, Mark (Kaylene)Sauer of Aberdeen, Darwin (Lisa) Sauer of Warner, Brian (Stacy) Sauer of Harrisburg, and Denise (Richard) Loerzel of Richville, MN and her brother Richard Thomas of Aberdeen. She has 12 grandchildren: Codey (Sammie) Sauer of Roscoe, Amanda (Dillon) Karlen and Kaden Sauer of Warner; Nick Sauer and Cathy (Murdock) McNickle of Aberdeen; Kiana, Dylan, Cole, and Christian Sauer of Harrisburg; Lindsey (Lane) Forkel, Shawna (Cody) McClendon, and Britney Loerzel of Richville, Minnesota. Her great-grandchildren include Harper, Hallie, and Reece Karlen of Warner, Cierra and Aubrie Sauer of Aberdeen, Avery, Eden, Iana, Unity, and Oakley Beyers of Roscoe,  Aubrey McClendon of Richville, MN.  She has many nieces, nephews, and numerous friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Matt and Doris (Young) Thomas; Stepmother Ella Thomas; grandchildren Nathan, Landon, and Mariah Sauer.

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