Her funeral service is 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron

CAVOUR — Joan A. Bich, age 89, of Cavour, passed away on Monday, October 7, 2024 at Huron Regional Medical Center in Huron surrounded by her family.

Her funeral service is 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron with burial at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery in Huron.

Visitation, with the family present, is from 5 to 7 p.m., today, Oct. 11, at Welter Funeral Home; or one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. A prayer service and time of sharing begins at 6:30 p.m. this evening at the funeral home.

The funeral service will be livestreamed thru the Mt. Calvary Church website - www.mtcalvaryhuron.org/livestream.

Joan Ann (Stahl) Bich was born on November 27, 1934, to John and Anna (Glanzer) Stahl. She grew up on the family farm near Yale and graduated from Yale High School in 1952. While in high school, Joan met the love of her life, Ralph Bich and they were inseparable for the next 70 years.

Joan and Ralph married on September 26, 1952, in Yale. To this union, seven children were born. After Ralph’s military service, they made their home in Huron. In 1960, they moved to Cavour.

In addition to raising their children, she worked as a cook at the Cavour school. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Yale, where she loved to help with vacation bible school. She later became a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron. Joan and Ralph loved the South Dakota State Fair. They would pack a picnic lunch and take the family in tow to go through all the buildings and exhibits. Years later, Joan and Ralph were part of the maintenance crew setting up grandstand entertainment.

Where she found joy in her life was caring for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed watching sporting events of her family and supporting the New York Yankees with Ralph. She liked to sew, embroider, grow flower and vegetable gardens and cook. In her later years, she enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels at her home.

She is survived by her children, Marlett (Robert) Snoozy of Mitchell, Mike (Lisa) Bich of Huron, Marcia (Gene) Miller of Huron, Myra (Steve) Kennedy of Mitchell, Doug (Janice) Bich of Cavour, Keith (Diane) Bich of Dallas, Texas, and Debbie (Joe) Snyder of Huron; 18 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; her brother Tim (Click) Stahl; Ralph’s siblings, Lyman Bich of Cavour, Lorene Hornig of Rapid City, Dorothy Niesl of Sacramento, Calif., and Howard (Arlene) Bich of Sioux Falls; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband in 2022; her parents, John and Anna Stahl; her sisters, Vilene and Darlene and brother Tony.

www.welterfuneralhome.com