Katherine Marie Immeker

Katherine Marie (Swier) Immeker, 97 years, 233 days, passed on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Bethany Home in Brandon, SD. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM Thursday, April 7, 2022, at First Reformed Church in Colton. Interment will be in the Colton Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Chapel in Colton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Gideons.

Katherine was born on August 7 ^th , 1924, in Sioux Falls to John and Maude (Schut) Swier and was the second of 12 children. She completed 8 ^th grade at the Lyons school system.  After that she helped with the younger children because of her mother’s illness and also assisted in the farm chores.

Katherine was introduced to a wonderful and persuasive man by the name of John Immeker on the busy streets of Colton. They courted for a year and were married on Dec 4 ^th , 1941. John and Katherine lived on a farm in the Colton area for over 40 years until retirement and then moved into Colton.

Katherine professed her love and life to Christ and will sit eternally with him in paradise. She was always teaching her children and grandchildren the love of Christ. She was a member of the 1 ^st Reformed Church and served on many boards and committees. She loved working in the church and cherished praising the Lord. She also loved to watch her children sing or play piano and organ for the church. She was active in the Gideons and The Union Gospel Mission where she made many friends.

Katherine worked hard as a farm wife, making a wonderful home for her family. She loved to garden, cook, can vegetables and meats that her and John raised together.  She also worked outside the home for Cornie Van Helden Construction. There she was able to work side by side with her best friend Truss!

Katherine was a very competitive person when it came to playing cards and games.  She loved spending time with her family around the table playing cards.  She had so much fun with her family and was extremely proud of each and every one.  Katherine had so much love to give them and was always happiest when her family was there for holidays and special occasions so she could hold all the new babies. She adored each one.

Her competitive spirit also surfaced as a champion hand corn picker. Katherine won the South Dakota state title 10 years in a row and was the Women’s National Champion in 1981 with many runner ups before that. She loved to compete!

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter Elaine Kaye Top (Larry) of Fort Collins, Colorado, sons Randy Lee (Darlene) of Orange City, Iowa, Michael John (Cheryl) of Brandon, SD, and son-in-law Rick Hinz of Adams, Minnesota, 13 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and another on the way, 1 great-great granddaughter and another on the way. She is survived by her brothers Roy Swier and Don Swier; sisters Mary Ann Franken and Darla Stensgard.

She was preceded in death by her husband John; daughter Patricia (Immeker) Hinz, great granddaughter Ashley Mews; her parents John and Maude (Schutt) Swier and stepmother Fannie Swier; her siblings, Katherine (who died at birth) Gerrit, Margaret, Peter, Vernon, Kenneth, and Lilly.