Helen M. Kocer, 88, of Wagner

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 A.M., Friday January 15, 2016 at St John's Catholic Church in Wagner, SD followed by burial in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, rural Wagner. Visitation will be Thursday from 3 to 5 PM at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner, followed by a 7 PM Rosary/Wake service at the church.

Helen Marie (Schoch) Kocer 88, passed away on Sunday, January 10, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society in Wagner.

Helen was born in Hosmer, SD on November 21, 1927 to Ludwig and Katherine (Gabriel) Schoch. She was the sixth child of a family of nine. Her father immigrated from southern Russia.

After graduating from high school, Helen obtained her Teacher's Certificate from Northern State in Aberdeen. She became a country school teacher, teaching for two years in Hecla before teaching south of Wagner along the river bottom. During this time she met her future husband, Romaine Kocer and they were married on June 5, 1950 in Hosmer, SD. To this union was born six boys: Bill, Paul, Steve, Chuck, Leonard and Romaine.

Helen and Romaine lived and farmed South of Wagner until 1961, when they purchased the implement dealer ship in Wagner. In 1962, they moved their house from the country to its present location in Wagner. Helen would share the story that nothing was removed or broken when the house was moved 12 miles to Wagner.

Helen was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters and St. John's Altar Society. She was also a proud member of the German from Russia Society and attended meetings in Kahler, SD.

Helen enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren play at many sporting events. She also was an avid bowler, and enjoyed gardening and canned for many years. Helen enjoyed traveling. They traveled to every state in the US and also traveled overseas to Czechoslovakia and Germany, where they visited friends and relatives and also attended Octoberfest. They also enjoyed several winters in the south.

Helen had a wonderful tradition of serving soup on Sunday, over the years many bowls of Chicken Noodle soup were served. She enjoyed baking kuchen and learned to make kolaches that were enjoyed by everyone. She and her sister Alice would enjoy dancing to Polka music. Helen was a very good card player, everyone wanted to be her partner in cards.  She enjoyed playing Bridge, wist, 10 point pitch and pinochle with family and friends.

Helen is survived by her husband of 65 years, Romaine Kocer of Wagner; sons: Bill of Waterford, CA, Paul (Susan) of Fort Morgan, CO, Steve (Donna) of Chamberlain, Chuck of Wagner, SD, Leonard of Wagner and Romaine (Barb) of Sturgis; 18 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; two brothers: Hank (Esther) Schoch of Lodi, CA and Louie (Peggy) Schoch of Lodi, CA; and many relatives and friends.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Ludwig and Katherine Schoch; and six sisters: Melvina Weber, Marge Dobler, Tillie Libis, Katherine Schoch, Carrie Hare and Alice Kocer.