Funeral services for Johanna Kern, age 75, of Lemmon will be 11:00am Wednesday, November 30, at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon. Deacon Bill Dustman will officiate with burial in the McIntosh Cemetery.


A family service will be held at 7:00pm on Tuesday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Special music will be provided by Kris Hetzel. Serving as casket bearers are Brandon and Mark Baumeister, Cody Clark, Scott Katus, Steve Jackson, and Rick Clifford. All friends are considered honorary bearers.


JOHANNA JULIANA SEIDLER was delivered by her grandmother in a sod house on July 13, 1930 at Gopher, SD. She was the daughter of Martin M. and Christina (Kern) Seidler. She attended the Pioneer Country School near Morristown and at an early age developed a love of horses. She attended her ninth grade year at McIntosh High School and then went to work in a local café. Shortly thereafter, she met LeRoy Flying Horse. They were united in marriage on September 14, 1948 at Baker, MT. They ranched on the Flying Horse Ranch along the Grand River 18 miles south of Watauga. Four daughters were born to this union, Linda Jo, Brenda Kay, Eleanor Arlene, and Katherine Ann. Due to her husbands' untimely death on October 19, 1972, Johanna stayed on the ranch one more year. She then married Arthur "Art" Kern in December of 1974. Johanna and Art lived in Lemmon where he was employed and raised an additional family of Ardis, Kevin, and Arlen. Art passed away on April 29, 2005.


Johanna was a very hard worker being rancher's wife and homemaker. When she moved to Lemmon she did many things, worked at Wheeler Mfg, Five Counties Nursing Home in the Dietary Depart., and was a Mary Kay Consultant. She also worked at the West River Referral Center, Respite Care for the Dept. of Social Services which included caring for the elderly in her home, at the Lemmon Truck Stop Café as a prep cook and dishwasher, and volunteered at the Thrift Shop. Johanna enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren and through the years other children.


Johanna liked to attend auction and rummage sales. She enjoyed going to Bingo with friends and growing flowers. She will be remembered by friends and family as someone who always had a smile, was very non judge-mental, was a friend to everyone, and would help anyone in time of need. Always close to her heart were her dear friends, Shirley Harris and Ella Mae Hausauser, and her little parakeet "Little One", which her great grandchildren will now care for. Johanna passed from this life on Saturday evening, November 26, at Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon at the age of 75 years, 4 months, and 13 days.


She was a member of Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church and the American Legion Auxiliary.


Grateful for having shared her life are her 3 daughters, Brenda Schneider, McIntosh, SD; Eleanor (Steve) Jackson, Katherine (Mark) Baumeister, all of Lemmon, SD; 1 step-daughter, Ardis (Rick) Clifford, Westport, SD; 1 step-son, Arlen Kern, Gering, NE; 14 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Alice Burnett, Tularosa, NM; 2 brothers, Andrew Seidler, Greeley, CO; and Raymond Seidler, Phoenix, AZ.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, LeRoy and Arthur, 1 daughter, Linda Jo Flying Horse in infancy, 1 step son, Kevin Kern; 1 grandson, Collin James Schneider; 1 sister, Irene Gilbranson; 3 brothers, Arnold Seidler, Donnie and Sidney Hunt.


A memorial has been established to the Lemmon Senior Meals on Wheels.