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Submitted: 9/20/21 • Approved: 9/20/21 • Last Updated: 9/23/21 • R272691-G272688-S3
Dorothy Koepsell
August 14, 1928 - February 14, 2021
Sioux Falls, SD ~ Dorothy Koepsell, age 92, died on Sunday, February 14, 2021 at the Inn on Westport in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at St. John American Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the St. John American Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or a charity of your choice. Please check back to this obituary for a link to view her funeral service online.
Dorothy was born on August 14, 1928 in Menno, SD to Emanuel and Hulda (Handel) Bender. She was raised and received her education in Menno, graduating as her class valedictorian in 1946. She continued her education earning an accounting degree at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion in 1950. She was proud to be one of the first women at USD to earn an accounting degree. While at USD she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.
Dorothy was united in marriage with Gilmore “Gil” J. Koepsell on June 25, 1952 in Menno, SD. Following Gil’s honorable discharge from the Army, the couple made their home in Sioux Falls, SD and were blessed with two sons, Randy and Jay.
Dorothy worked as an accountant for many years at the Sioux Falls, YWCA retiring in 1982. She was a faithful member of St. John American Lutheran Church where she served on the church council, Women of the Church, sang in the church choir and played organ in her early years. She was also a member of Luther Manor Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary and Augustana Auxiliary. In addition, she served on the PEO Board of the YWCA.
Dorothy enjoyed volunteering for Meals on Wheels, playing cards, traveling, wintering in Arizona (visiting her brother) and then Texas and doing embroidery work. Above all, Dorothy loved spending time with her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who will be dearly missed.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of over 68-years, Gilmore “Gil” Koepsell, Sioux Falls, SD; two sons, Randy (Marilyn) Koepsell, Chanhassen, MN and Jay (Deb) Koepsell, Medina, MN; six grandchildren, Nicole (Walter) Kulbaba, Michelle (Jon) Wiegand, Ryan (Tracy) Koepsell, Angela (Michael) Manes, Katherine Koepsell and Jennifer Koepsell; ten great-grandchildren, Carter, Spencer, Parker, Harper, Braelynn, Amelia, Lucas, Kaylee, Rylee, Annalee plus one more due in June of 2021; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Emanuel and Hulda Bender; brother Wilmer Bender; brother, Oliver Bender and his wife Verna; and her brother-in-law, Elroy Koepsell and his wife Lyla.
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Section West Knoll Plot # 949
Contributed on 9/20/21 by 9katz
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Record #: 272691