Joan Bloom

A memorial service for Joan Bloom, age 81, of Gregory, South Dakota, was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Union Congregational Church in Gregory with Pastor Alex Bendig officiating.

Amanda Determan gave the eulogy, and Sara Anderson accompanied the congregation on piano for several hymns.

Urn bearers were Joan’s grandchildren: Sara Degen, Rebecca Buck, Katie Petersen, Courtney DeBoer, Tré Daniel, Tyler Daniel, Dante Bloom, Tommy Determan, Coy Determan, and Mya Determan. Inurnment will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery at a later date. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Joan Shirley Thum was born to Ruben and Gladys (Ganske) Thum on November 28, 1944, in a sod house outside of Scotland, South Dakota. She grew up on the farm surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandmas. In 1960, her only sibling, Lynette Thum, joined their family.

Joan attended country school as a girl and graduated from Scotland High School in 1962. She went on to attend Springfield College to earn her teaching degree. At Springfield she developed many life-long friendships. She graduated in 1965 with a teaching degree.

Her first teaching job was in Gregory, teaching 1st grade – some of those students still live in Gregory today. Throughout the years, she taught grade school, middle school, and special education students. Joan finished her teaching career in Gregory as the K-12 librarian.

In 1964 Joan met the love of her life, Neil W. Bloom. They were married on July 29, 1967, and to this union four children were born. They lived in Winner, Murdo, Kadoka, Casper, Rapid City, and Gregory. Lifelong friends were made in each of those locations.

Joan loved to garden, read, cook, and go on adventures with Neil. They camped, fished, hunted, and went four-wheeling as a family. One time she grew a pumpkin so big that it ended up on the Rapid City news. They moved to Gregory in 1983. Joan made many friends in Gregory, including her best friend, Alice Jacobsen. The families spent many days and sometimes nights on the houseboat on the Missouri river.

Then came the grandkids. She loved them so very much and they loved her right back. Joan took interest in everything they did, cheered them on, bragged about them, and gifted them books to share her love of reading. She messaged them all daily, checking in on them and sharing news.

Joan was a fan of all sports. She went to all the home games and watched them online when she couldn’t attend. She loved the Gregory band, choir, oratory, and plays — she believed that Gregory had the most talented kids. Her love of sports expanded to Vikings football, Twins baseball, and college basketball. In the summers you could see her in her golf cart at the baseball games — always with a grandkid (her own or ‘honorary’).

Joan loved staying busy and was an avid game and card player. She loved pitch most but had learned to play bridge in the last few years. She loved to go to the senior center for whichever game was going on that day. She liked going to senior meals, not just for the meal, but for the social time with friends.

Joan was a member of the Red Hat Ladies, Congregational Church, and had served on the Gregory Library board. She had daily conversations with friends and family, checking in with them, telling them about her day’s activities, and giving the weather report.

The world is a little quieter without her in it, and she will be missed by friends, and most of all by her family.

Joan is survived by her four children — Eric (Vicki) Bloom, Laura (Roger) Petersen, Rachelle (Wilson) Santiago, and Amanda (Jeff) Determan; ten grandchildren — Sara Degen, Rebecca Buck, Katie Petersen, Courtney DeBoer, Tré Daniel, Tyler Daniel, Tommy Determan, Coy Determan, Mya Determan, and Dante Bloom; ten great-grandchildren — Connor, Mason, Eli Degen, Owen Carstens, Aiden, Hudson, Emma, Aubree, and Greyson DeBoer, and Sebastian and Roman Petersen. She is also survived by her sister Lynette Thum; three nieces — Stephanie, Leilani, and Patty; and nephew Tim; her many cousins; the friends she made throughout the years; and her 1.1k Facebook friends.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws Vern and Neva Bloom, brothers-in-law Derwin and Mike, and husband Neil W. Bloom.