Irene Koehn, 102, of Wessington Springs passed away Friday evening March 24, 2023 at the Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket. Visitation was Tuesday March 28, 2023 from 5-7 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery Wednesday March 29, 2023 at 10 a.m..
Irene Enninga was born to John and Elsie Enninga on April 6, 1920. She was raised on the farm in rural Fulda, Minnesota along with her four sisters. They were members of Immanuel American Lutheran Church where Irene was baptized and confirmed. Andrew Koehn’s family were also members of the church and Andy and Irene were married there on July 6, 1941.
They farmed and fed cattle near Fulda until 1949 when they packed up all their belongings and, by now, three boys, Gary, Thomas and Joel, left her beloved Minnesota behind and moved to their new farm in western Jerauld County, South Dakota. As Grandma Enninga declared, “Derval Dakot, Land of Goshen!”
In their retirement years, Irene and Andy spent many days fishing walleyes on the Missouri River and summertime it was hard to find them at home. Irene was an excellent gardener so they had to come home from fishing long enough to bring the fish home and take care of the garden. Good thing because we always looked forward to her dill pickles. She was an accomplished seamstress and made several sets of matching western shirts for the boys in those early years. The Featherworks in Mitchell was a favorite destination. And, later in life, she really enjoyed her days of quilting with the ladies from Our Saviors. There were special friendships involved with that effort.
Irene was an independent lady, a hard worker and a quick wit. It was her desire to live independently but as the years took their toll, she became a resident at the Prairie View in Woonsocket where she lived until a few weeks of her 103rd birthday. As late as St. Patrick’s Day, she still had her vibrant personality.
Irene is survived by her three sons, Gary and friend Murt of Wessington Springs, Tom and Ginger of Chamberlain and Joel of Weldona, CO.; six grandchildren, Gina of Brandon, SD, Kelly of Kenmare, ND, Wendy (Charles) Swanson of Pukwana, Carrie (Ryan) Mitchell of Tea, Jody Sarntee of Wheatridge, CO and Justin of Colorado Springs, CO; 11 great grandchildren and one great, great granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband Andy, parents John and Elsie and her four sisters Berniece, Leona, Tootie and Dolly and three nieces. Irene was a survivor and was the last of her generation on both sides of the family.
