Funeral Services for Genevie A. Kopren, age 83 of Bison, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at the American Lutheran Church in Bison. Pastor Marjorie Hershey will officiate with burial in the Bison Cemetery.


Serving as Honorary Bearers are Toran, Crissy, Jed, Kortney, Chris, Austin, LaJeana


Serving as Active Casketbearers are Larry Schecher, Gary Larson, Lenard Chapman, Larry Veal, Stanley Fried, Jerry Fero, Lonnie Krause, and Clyde Hafner.


Special music will be provided by Kortney Seidel, Margo Kronberg, Karen Voller, Greg Veal, Max Matthews, Brooke Hershey, Salli Blazey.


The Readers are Toran, Austin, Cole.


Genevie Amy Hoar was born February 7, 1928, in Bison, SD, to Henry and Helen (McKinstry) Hoar in the sod house her grandfather, Albert McKinstry built in homestead days. She was the last baby born in this house.


She grew up in the Bison area and attended Bison Elementary School. She graduated from Bison High in 1946. There was such a shortage of teachers and so many rural schools that a person could attend six weeks Summer School to get a teacher's permit. She taught Slick Creek School for one year. Genevie taught Lone Tree School for three years.

On June 22, 1947, she married Norman Kopren in the American Lutheran Church. To this union, four children were born, Norma Jean, Eileen, Dale and Reid.


Music was an important part of her life. She taught piano to many children including her own children and grandchildren. Gen also played piano at church for many years. Hobbies over the years included gardening, quilting and scrapbooking. She made crazy quilts for her children and grandchildren and animal baby quilts for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and special friends. Granny loved attending all her grandchildren's activities, taking pictures, clipping newspaper articles and lovingly created a scrapbook for each grandchild.


She held offices on Lone Tree School Board, American Lutheran Church Board and WELCA. Gen taught Sunday School classes for many years and directed cherub choir at church.


Genevie passed away on Saturday afternoon, June 18, 2011 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger at the age of 83 years, 4 months, and 11 days.


She is survived by husband, Norman Kopren of Bison, SD, daughter, Eileen Kopren, Dickinson, ND, sons, Dale (Arla) Kopren and Reid (Tarina) Kopren, all of Meadow, SD, grandchildren, Toran (Crissy)Kopren, Fort Collins, CO, Jed Kopren, Harlan, IA, Kortney (Chris) Seidel, Bison, SD, Austin Kopren, Oakes, ND, and LaJeana Kopren, Spearfish, SD, and five great-grandchildren, Alexa, Brooklyn and Cole Kopren and Kahlea and Colbin Seidel, sisters, Gwyneth Green, Bison, SD, Dorothy (Howard) Haugen, Bison, SD, and sister-in-law, Annie Hoar, Hot Springs, SD.


Gen was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Helen Hoar, her brother, Richard Hoar, infant daughter, Norma Jean Kopren, and infant granddaughter, Mandy Lyn Kopren.


Visitation will be on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a family service at 7:00 p.m. all at the American Lutheran Church in Bison.


A memorial has been established.