Bethel Kohn

Bethel (Mrs. Milton) Kohn, age 83 of Marvin died January 6, 2018, at St. William’s Care Center in Milbank.

Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, January 12, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank.  Father Gary DeRouchey will officiate and burial will be the St. Lawrence Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Thursday at the church, beginning at 5 p.m. followed by a vigil at 7 p.m.  Visitation will continue on Friday afternoon, one hour prior to the Mass.

Casket bearers will be: Justin Kohn, Tanner Kohn, Danielle Neilan, Corey Neilan, Adam Applehof, and Nathan Schlueter.  Honorary bearers will be: Rodney Smith, Scott Smith, Bethel’s nieces and nephews, and former co-workers at Dakota Granite.

Barbara Bethel (Tuchscherer) Kohn was born on September 10, 1934, at the family home in Grant County, SD.   She was the daughter of Louis Peter and Virginia Mary (Kockx) Tuchscherer. She grew up on the farm near Milbank, SD.  She attended country school in Alban Township #2 and St. Lawrence School as a youngster.  She and her sister, Ardelle rented a room in town for the week days they attended school.  They stayed alone at the apartment for the school days, even though Bethel was only in about the third grade.  After high school, Bethel worked at Milbank Mutual Insurance Company, where she was the first person to implement the use of computers.

Bethel was united in marriage with Milton Henry Kohn on November 28, 1959, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.  They moved to Wahpeton, ND while Milton attended North Dakota State School of Science.  They later moved to Ivanhoe, MN and lived there for a couple of years until they purchased the family farm in Marvin.  Bethel worked for Dakota Granite Company for over 25 years.

Bethel was a faithful lifelong member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.  She was a 4-H Leader for a few years for the local children in Marvin.  Until very recently, Bethel proudly served as a voting official for Osceola and Mazeppa Townships.

Bethel hosted and cohosted many of the Kohn family reunions for the past 50 years, bringing family members together from here to Seattle.  She enjoyed gardening and canning her produce.  She loved flowers and crafting.  She enjoyed the challenge of computer games, cross word and Sudoku puzzles.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 58 years, Milton Kohn of Marvin, SD; her children: Allen (Kathy) Kohn of Milbank, SD; David (Inge) Kohn of Spearfish, SD; Lisa Kohn of Little Falls, MN; Theresa (Danny) Neilan of Watertown, SD; and Richard (Becky) Kohn of Watertown, SD; grandchildren: Kristin (Adam) Appelhof, Jasmine (Nathan) Schlueter, Justin Kohn (Malinda Thiele), Tanner Kohn, Brent Neilan (Serene Reinholz), Corey Neilan (Julie Smith), Danielle Neilan; great-grandchildren: Issac and Jace Schlueter, Braelin and Ashlin Appelhof, and soon to be Baby Kohn; “bonus” children Bethel embraced include: Tammy, Dustin (Marisa), Kristin (Ashton), Brandon, Trent, Kaylee, Ian, Leah, Dallas, and Owen; sisters: Ardelle Lundeen Roberts of Lincoln, NE, and Cheryl (Loran) Radermacher of Milbank, SD; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bethel was preceded in death by her parents: Louis and Virginia Tuchscherer; and one brother.