Alice Jean Schlesinger, 86, died December 24 at the Mitchell Queen of Peace Hospital. A memorial service will be held at 3PM, Saturday, January 24 at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner.


She was born March 31, 1922 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Rudy and Louise Koepke, the second of two children. Her brother, Rudy, was killed in the Pacific off Okinawa in 1945.


She grew up in St. Paul except for a few years when the family lived in Hinckley, MN. She was a graduate of Harding High School in St. Paul.


She was employed at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis during World War II.


She was married to Charles Schlesinger on October 4, 1944 in St. Paul. Following the end of WWII and Charles' graduation from the University of Minnesota the couple moved to Colorado where Charles began his career with the U.S. Forest Service. In 1959 Charles was tansferred to Custer, SD and the family lived there until Charles retired.


After retirement in 1976 Alice and Charles returned to St. Paul where they lived until 1999 when they moved to Wagner, SD.


Her life was devoted to caring for her family, collecting antiques and following the Minnesota Twins.


Alice had been a resident of the Golden Living Center in Armour since 2005.


She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother. She is survived by daughters Linda (Bernie) Osberg of Hermosa, SD and Gail (Derol) Hall of Wagner, SD; four grandchildren Kimberly Osberg of Hermosa, Carl (Kristin) Osberg of Minneapolis, Justin Hall of Tea, SD and Heather Hall of Mitchell; and five great-grandchildren Katherine Heikes, James Osberg, Casey, Brady and Kimberly Hall.


Alice has requested that her body be donated to the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. A memorial service will be scheduled for a later date.