Funeral services for Carolyn M. Geist, age 71, of Lemmon, SD will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon. Tim Sauter and John Sauter will officiate with burial in the Greenhill Cemetery.


Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. followed by a family service at 6:00 p.m. all at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Thursday afternoon one hour prior to the services at the church.


Carolyn was born in Lemmon SD, February 14th 1941 to Clement and Cora (Brunette-Ness) Engle. At the age of ten months her father passed away, Cora raised Chuck and Carolyn in Lemmon with the assistance of Cora's family. At a young age Carolyn thought the whole world celebrated her birthday, because the local businesses decorated with hearts and cupids for her!!


She attended K-12 in the Lemmon school system, graduating in 1959. The class of '59 was an important part of Carolyn's life. They were a close group of friends that stayed in touch throughout the years.


After high school Carolyn married Howard Geist on June 26th 1960. Five children were born to this union. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren unconditionally. Carolyn always put her family's wants and needs ahead of her own.


Carolyn enjoyed a variety of jobs. She worked as a nurse's aide at 5 Counties Hospital; Lynn's Super Valu in the meat department, and as a cashier. Employed by Greater Missouri as a social worker, she led many community projects, including the Teen Center. She was instrumental in starting the Lemmon Ambulance service and served as one of the first EMT volunteers. Over the years she also worked for Super 8, in Aberdeen. Upon returning to Lemmon she worked at the Tap Club, Live Center, and Wheeler Manufacturing. She enjoyed and loved people and helping when she could.


Carolyn's sense of humor was well-developed and she had a great story-telling style. She spoke often of Ole and Lena; one might think she knew them personally. When she smiled, her whole face smiled and her eyes twinkled. Her laugh was infectious, and you had to laugh with her. Some of her grand passions were music, Elvis, driving, potlucks and playing cards. Her family will long enjoy memories of family vacations and reunions, picnics in the park, a day at the lake, or just cruising main with Carolyn at the wheel, belting out a song from the 50's. Much to her grandchildren's chagrin, she wasn't above rolling down all the windows in the car and blaring Johnny Horton for all main street to hear. Her greatest legacy may be that her grandchildren can all sing along.


Carolyn moved to Groton, and lived with Val, so she could get dialysis in Aberdeen. During the past 2 years she had many medical calamities. When she broke her hip, she said it was just another mountain she had to climb. "Oh well," she said, "I've started at the bottom before." When the decision was made to stop dialysis, her wish was to come home to Lemmon.


Carolyn passed away on Monday morning, February 20, 2012 at the 5 Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon.


She is survived by two sons, Howie (Crystal) Geist, Lemmon, SD and Dusty (Lori) Geist, Williston, ND; three daughters, Becky (Russ) Nelson, Lemmon, SD, Val (Kelly) Pappas, Groton, SD and Roni (Vern) Klein, Lemmon, SD; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and one on the way; two sisters-in-law, Sylvia Engle, Hettinger, ND and Wilma Oyler, Crescent City, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.


Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Chuck Engle; and one grandson, Cassidy.


A memorial has been established.