Sophie Kafka, 104, of Wagner

Sophie died Monday, September 6, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Society in Wagner. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, September 9, 2010 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Dante. Burial is in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Dante. Visitation will be Wednesday from noon until 5 PM at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner followed by a 7:30 PM Rosary/Wake service at the church in Dante.

Sophie Helen Kafka was born May 6, 1906 on the family farm north of Dante, the daughter of Frank and Ann (Carda) Hron. She died Monday, September 6, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Society in Wagner. She attained the age of 104 years and four months.

Sophie attended country school through the eighth grade. She then helped on the family farm with chores and housework and also helped raise the younger siblings.

Sophie married Steve Kafka on February 13, 1928 at Dante Assumption parish. Three children were born to their union. Together they farmed southwest of Dante until Steve's death on February 4, 1969. She moved into Wagner in 1974 and entered the Good Samaritan Center in 1997. She will be remembered there for her love of crocheting, playing bingo, visiting with friends and for the love she had for the staff.

Sophie was a life time member of the St. Mary's Altar Society and member of the Assumption parish.

Sophie loved gardening, fishing, playing cards, sewing and most of all, crocheting, until her eyesight went poor after her 100th birthday. She loved spending time with her children, her many grandchildren and visiting with friends and neighbors. Sophie was a great gardener, raising cucumbers and tomatoes by the bushel, as well as cleaning frier chickens, then selling and delivering them to town and neighbors. She also loved to cook and was known for cooking for large threshing crews at her home and for her homemade pies.

Thankful for having shared her life are her daughter Irene and husband Joe Krcil of Dante; 8 grandchildren: Debbie (Dwayne) Brandt of Avon; Karen (JK) Dolan of Beresford; Tim (Tricia) Krcil of Dante; Steve (Karen) Krcil of Wagner; Susan (Jim) Bacon of Spearfish; Mary (Dave) Mudder of Garretson; Theresa (Brian) Adel of Blackhawk; and Jason Krcil of Sturgis; 25 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; daughter-in-law Alice Kafka of Dante; 4 step grandchildren: Cathy (Bernie) Harrington of Aberdeen; Barb Frei of Hastings, NE; Diane (Dave) Robertson of Wagner; Faye (Jon) Williams of Avon; 9 step great grandchildren; 10 step great-great grandchildren; sister Lillian Blaha of Wagner and many nieces and nephews.

Sophie was preceded in death by her husband Steve, parents, sons: Jim and Orvin; grandson Lawrence; 3 brothers and 6 sisters.