JoAnn Ahlman

Funeral services for JoAnn Ahlman were held on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial was in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD. Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD was in charge of arrangements. JoAnn Harter Ahlman was born on October 10, 1932, to Glen and Laura Josephine (Cramlett) Harter. As a young girl, she enjoyed reading, getting into mischief with her brothers and sisters, playing with cousins and close friends, and attending school. She fondly wrote of her love for hot chocolate and tomato soup, putting bridles on cattle to ride when her parents were gone, and wading in a nearby creek.

She was united in marriage to Bob Ahlman on March 26, 1950. The couple had four daughters – Peggy, Glenda, Susan, and Lori.

JoAnn cherished her faith, family, friends, and community. She worked incredibly hard, officially beginning at age 13 after her dad passed away and she left home and worked for room and board for two different family homes while attending junior high and high school. She shared fond memories of the time she spent with the Lyle and Bernice Manzer family – specifically their kindness in giving her a home, and a family to love and teaching her to have faith.

After marrying Bob, she happily recalled her time caring for her family by raising the girls, gardening, farming, haying, spending Sundays on picnics, and going for long drives as a family. Bob, JoAnn, and the girls moved to Colome, SD, full-time in 1972 where they purchased a building (the second floor of the Gamble Store building) and renovated it to be their home. While Bob began his machine and welding shop, JoAnn spent time as a dietician at the Colome schools, worked for the Legion Club and City Legion Store, and volunteered as a 4-H leader and Sunday School teacher in both the Lakeview and Colome Methodist churches. She belonged to the extension club for just over 25 years and was a member of the Legion Auxiliary for 37 years. In her role as a 4-H leader, she entered in a sewing contest, making a dress with which she won the top purple ribbon at the State Fair.

JoAnn Harter Ahlman, age 90, of Colome, SD, passed away on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner, SD.

JoAnn is survived by her husband of 72 years, Bob Ahlman; brother, Ferman (Bud) Harter; sister, Dorothy Rutherford; daughters, Peggy Soper, Glenda Simer, Susan (Rob) Saunders, and Lori Haukaas; thirteen grandchildren: Eric Brown, Danta (Barry) Simonson, Crystal Allen, Allissa (Alex) Gurnsey, Chris (Michelle) Sachtjen, Connor (Cassie) Sachtjen, Beth Larsen, Bonnie (Ken Harkins) Saunders, Erica (Ivan) Beck, Jacque Haukaas, Lacey Brubaker, Paige Haukaas, and Peter (Cheyenne) Haukaas; twenty-six great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Glen Harter and Laura Josephine Noelle, step-father Arthur Noelle, brothers John Harter and Pat Harter, and sisters Frances Jorgenson and Bessie Jean (Calvin) Smith.