Onalee M. Emery

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Onalee M. Emery, 83, of Sioux Falls formerly of Renner, died peacefully at her apartment at Primrose Retirement Community on Thursday, June 9, 2016 with her daughter by her side.

Graveside services will be at 3:00 PM Friday, June 17, 2016 at St. Olaf Cemetery, Baltic, SD. Memorial services will be at 4:00 PM Friday, June 17, 2016 at Renner Lutheran Church.

Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, June 16, 2016 at Renner Lutheran Church.

Onalee Marilyn (Berg) Emery was born July 18, 1932 in Sioux Falls to Jerry and Aletta (Eggers) Berg. She was raised in Renner, S.D.

She attended the Renner School and Washington High School in Sioux Falls, graduating in 1950. She worked for the Military District in Sioux Falls where she met her future husband Harold Emery. They married in November 1954. They lived in various South Dakota communities while Harold was a South Dakota Highway Patrolman.

She worked for the State of South Dakota State Legislature in Pierre, and later Renberg School and the Sioux Falls School District. Onalee was a lifelong member of Renner Lutheran Church. She retired as their organist at the age of 77, after 55 years of dedicated service.

Onalee will be remembered for her love and devotion to her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her quiet personality and her quick wit. She loved flowers, gardening, chocolate, reading novels and the Argus Leader, buying shoes, and the annual trip to ‘the lake’. She was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins.

Grateful for having shared her life are her two children, Robert (Cathy) Emery of Seattle, WA and Shari (Jeff) Emery-Spargur of Sioux Falls; three grandchildren, Breonna (Jared) Schnabel of Mitchell, Shane (Mary) Spargur of Sioux Falls and Brynne Spargur of Sioux Falls;, five great-grandchildren, Harper, Macy, Holden, Lola and Presley; her brother, Robert (Sharon) Berg, Williamsburg, VA and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold in 1963; parents and brother, Charles (Chuck) Berg.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the following; Dr. Tara Geis and Dr. David Brechtelsbauer for their excellent care, as well as the caring staff at Primrose Retirement Community and AseraCare Hospice.