Rachel K. Amsden

Rachel K. Amsden, age 93 of Milbank died March 24, 2016, at St. William’s Care Center in Milbank.

Services will be held on Saturday, April 2, at 10:30 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church, Milbank. Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn and Rev. Melanie Reiners will officiate. Burial will be in the Milbank City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 1 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home. Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday, one hour prior to the service.

Music will be provided by Linda Stengel, organist. Honorary bearers will be the former Dakota State Bank employees. Casket bearers will be: Scott Haubris, Dylan Russman, Hunter Ammann, Christopher Fischbeck, Raymond Amsden, Ted Van Hoorn, Blaize Ammann, Parker Steege, Channing Russman, Brent Amsden, and Mike Amsden.

Rachel Kathryn (Van Hoorn) Amsden was born January 14, 1923, on a farm in Geneseo Township, Roberts County, SD. She was the daughter of Fred and Gretchen (Korfe) Van Hoorn. She was the youngest of eight siblings. She lived with her parents until about one year before they moved from the farm to Milbank.

She attended country school at Geneseo #3 through the eighth grade. Many years later she continued her learning and received her GED certification in 1981.
Rachel worked at several cafes in Milbank, the Red Owl Grocery Store, Lindrud’s Variety Store, and the Mercantile, Inc. She managed a bar called the Dokey Club, and worked in the office of Cargill, Inc. until that office was moved to Minneapolis, MN.

Rachel was united in marriage to George Amsden on June 10, 1951, and a year later moved to Aberdeen, SD and returned to Milbank the following year.

In 1959 Rachel was hired at Dakota State Bank, starting as a cashier and later transitioning to the Insurance Department. She retired in 1988.
Rachel loved working and being involved with the public, so retirement didn’t last long. In 1992 she went back to work part time for the Milbank Chamber of Commerce until November of 1996. She was then asked to work as the dispatcher for the Lions Community bus service and finally retired in 2006.

Her family was the joy of her life and she enjoyed being with them as much as possible.

Rachel is survived by her daughter, Karen (Bob) Russman of Wilmot, SD; and George’s children: Lucille (Bob) Todd of Rochester, MN; Lois Wathern of Marshall, MN; Joan Sokoloski of Chicasgo City, MN; and Virgil (Beverly) Amsden of St. Paul, MN.

Eight grandchildren: Becky Russman (Marty Baker); Elizabeth (Jason) Groff; Jackie Russman (Terry Eastman); Monica (Chuck) Lindemann; Jolene Miller; Brent (Cheryl) Amsden; Brenda (Randy) Fischbeck; and Mike (Sherri) Amsden. Great-grandchildren: Scott; Dylan; Hunter; Blaize; Parker; Channing; Tanner; Brody; Shelby; Roger; Carly; Christopher; Raymond; Madelyn; Chad; Cerissa; Calin; Paul; Mark; Bryan; and Nina.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Gretchen Van Hoorn; her husband, George Amsden on April 16, 1980; eight siblings: brothers Dick, Fred, and Siebe Van Hoorn; sisters Margaret Hassebroek, Sarah Winter, Friede Gommer, and Helen Selchert; three grandchildren: Barbara Wittman, LuWayne Todd, and Michelle Amsden.

The family suggests memorials be given to Milbank Community Transit, PO Box 406, Milbank, SD 57252.