JoAnn Harter Ahlman, age 90, of Colome, SD, peacefully and surrounded by the love of family entered her eternal heavenly home on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner, SD.

Visitation will be Wednesday, October 19 ^th , from 5-6 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m., at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD.

Funeral services will be Thursday, October 20 ^th at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD.  The family invites you to a celebration of life for JoAnn with a luncheon at the Colome American Legion following burial.

Arrangements are in the care of the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD.

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.

Before uniting in marriage to Bob Ahlman on a blustery cold day, March 26, 1950, she writes that they first met as she picnicked with her close friends and a car full of boys drove through their picnic area – Bob being one of them.  When the group of boys stopped their car, Bob winked at her.

JoAnn wrote that their wedding day was a wintery mix of snow, rain and big drifts.  So big that Bob's brother, Gene had to meet them on their way home from the ceremony and pull them ten miles to the house.  They didn't have a shower and housewarming until May, due to the heavy snows that spring.  Over the course of their 72 years of marriage, they were blessed with four beautiful 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, 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 Sunday's on picnics and going for long drives as a family – it was their way of life while living on the farm.  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 recalled pride in entering a sewing contest, making a dress with which she won the top purple ribbon at the State Fair!

JoAnn's stewardship of her life as a gift from the Lord and her commitment to caring for her friends and family has left a mark on all who were blessed to have had time with her on their life path.

Those left to cherish her memory and live out her example of a life well led are:  JoAnn is survived by her husband of 72 years, Bob Ahlman; brother, Ferman (Bud) Harter and sister, Dorothy Rutherford in addition to daughters; Peggy Soper, Glenda Simer, Susan (Rob) Saunders and Lori Haukaas.  Thirteen grandchildren including:  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 including:  Taylor (Cody) Ratz, Devon Simonsen, Ciara Allen, Jordyne Hoffman, Lacy Sachtjen, Layton Sachtjen, Laila Sachtjen, Boyd Sachtjen, Bo Sachtjen, Harley Hall, David Hall, Frankie Harkins, Grace Harkins, Ethan (Angela) Beck, Aidan Beck, Ayla Beck, Amir Hariri, Javon Haukaas, Korbin Miller, Mila Johnson, Isabelle Brubaker, Landon Brubaker, Ace Brubaker, Paxtyn Miller, Whitlee Haukaas, Baby boy Haukaas.  Three great-great grandchildren, including:  Cash Wheeler, Reagan Kahler and Baby girl Beck.

Meeting her in glory are 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.