Carol Schoenfelder, 88, of Mitchell, SD, died Sunday, October 4, 2020 at Firesteel Healthcare Center. Visitation will be held from 1-3:00 PM Sunday, October 11 at Bittner Funeral Chapel. A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church. Burial will be in Serviceman’s Memorial Cemetery. The family asks that masks be worn. Arrangements are by Bittner Funeral Chapel.
Carol Jean (Krell) Schoenfelder was born in Plankinton on August 6, 1932 to Ruth (Lenocker) and Harry Krell. She graduated from Plankinton High in 1950. Carol met a young veteran from Kimball named Gilbert Schoenfelder at a dance in 1950. Together they attended dances in the Plankinton-Kimball area. They were married on October 2, 1951. Carol and Gib lived in Deadwood, Kimball and Plankinton before settling in Mitchell, where they raised their nine children.
Carol loved to cook for family and friends. In 2015, with the help of children and grandchildren, she compiled a cookbook featuring favorite family recipes from over the years. If the recipes had rhubarb, zucchini or tomato you can bet she picked them from her much loved garden! Carol was very active in the VFW Auxiliary and DAV Auxiliary; she held local and state offices in both. Carol and Gib enjoyed traveling across the country from Maine to Idaho and points in between to visit their children. They attended many DAV national conventions.
Her house was always a hub of activity. It was a place where generations gathered for every holiday, birthday and everything in between. She was an avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing Solitaire and crafting. You could always count on her-rain or shine. She was a no-nonsense lady full of love for her family. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Carol is survived by her children, Jeanne (Robert) Lorenz of Mitchell, SD, Charles (Lessie) of Boise, ID, Thomas (Joyce) of Oxford, NE, Dennis (Chayne Boutillette) of Alamosa, CO, Daniel (Doris) of Gypsum, CO, Karen Tollefson of Mitchell, SD, Lisa Schoenfelder-Fisher (Steve Fisher) of Sioux Falls, SD, and Paul (Lisa) Wagner, SD; 19 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Ed Krell, Patricia McGregor, Sharon Mahaney and Judi Lickteig.
She was preceded in death by her husband of over 56 years, Gib; her parents; brother, Donald; daughter, Ruth Anderson; and son-in-law, Herb Tollefson, Jr.
