Lorene Perman Schweitzer, age 88, of Lemmon, SD passed away on Tuesday morning, March 13, 2012 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger.


The Rosary Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 19, 2012 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr. Tony Grossenburg officiating. Burial will take place privately at a later date at the Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.


Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Lorene Perman was born on July 9, 1923 in Wishek, ND to Adam and Katharina (Opp) Perman. As a young child, she moved to Mobridge, SD with her family. Lorene grew up and attended school in Mobridge.


While going to a dance one evening with her friends, there was no room in the car, and Lorene sat on the lap of Albert Schweitzer. They began dating and on August 9, 1940 they were united in marriage. Three children were born to this union, Dan, Kay and Mike. Following their marriage, they moved to Bentley, ND where Albert was a Depot Agent for the railroad and Lorene helped him with his duties. In 1947, they moved to Isabel, SD where Albert worked for the railroad. They owned a café in Isabel and Lorene also helped out at the Railroad Depot as needed.


Lorene and Albert moved to Lemmon, SD in 1963 and Lorene began working as a housekeeper at Ray's Motel. She also did cleaning at Thompson Drug Store and in-home cleaning in the Lemmon area.


Lorene baked the best bread and loved cooking German dishes. Her dumplings were out of this world. Lorene also enjoyed embroidering, crocheting, and making afghans for her family. She taught her family, grandkids and great-grandkids how to Love. She also passed down her deep love and concern for animals. She was interested in all the families' pets (even as she lay in the hospital) and worried about any animal she saw being neglected. Lorene was determined and showed that determination and strength these past weeks when she entered the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger.


She passed away there on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.


Lorene is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Patty Schweitzer, Lemmon, SD and Dan and Arlette Schweitzer, Keystone, SD; one daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Darrell Gill, Mobridge, SD; 11 grandchildren, Garrett (Robyn) Schweitzer, Grant (Lindsey Serr) Schweitzer, Gaven Schweitzer, Shawn (Khushnum) Gill, Dustan Gill, Michelle (Troy) Wall, Curt (Gina) Schweitzer, Christa (Kevin) Uchytil, Niki (Jack) Hayes, Montanna Barnett and Kayla Barnett; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; one brother, Jack (Clara) Perman, Mobridge, SD; and three sisters, Irene Walth, Mobridge, SD, Helen Foland and Florence (Cap) Aberle, Wenatchee, WA.


Lorene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albert D. Schweitzer; six brothers; one sister; and one grandson, Chad Schweitzer.


In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Arrow Public Transit in Lemmon.