June Harberts

June Harberts, 91, of Emery, SD, entered eternal life on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater, SD. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Monday, May 19, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer, SD. Burial will be at Emery Community Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Sunday from 2-4:00 pm with a 3:30 pm prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.
June Helen Baumgard was born on June 13, 1933 to Fredrick and Helena (Maken) Baumgard. She grew up on the family farm, the sixth of seven children. She graduated from Brewster High School in 1951.
After graduation, she earned enough money to move to the Twin Cities, where she met her future husband, Carl "Doc" Harberts. They were married on June 30, 1956, and moved to Pipestone, MN, where she worked office jobs until 1958 when they relocated to Emery, SD. They become a part of the community, raising their seven children.
The Harberts' house was a place where everyone was welcomed, and became a gathering spot for kids of all ages, where June's love and care was always apparent. The house was a go to for hours after school and into the evening where a game of Spoons may be happening at the dining room table, Kick-the-Can out in the yard and a pick-up game of basketball in the driveway.
June's outgoing personality allowed everyone she met to become a friend. She not only engaged in conversations with strangers, but she also had a unique ability to listen and would frequently find connections with people through these discussions. This made her perfect for the jobs she held as her children grew older. For several years, she sold plants out of the family garage for Fensel's greenhouse, then eventually went to work for South Dakota Tourism as a travel consultant at the I-90 information centers near Salem. In 1993, she was honored as the state consultant of the year.
She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Emery and Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer. She enjoyed volunteering and following local youth sports teams as well as those of her grandchildren.
June is survived by her seven children, Karla Olinger of Emery, SD, Scott (Mia) Harberts of Pueblo West, CO, Kristi (Greg) Fiscus of Louisville, KY, Lori (Dave) Jeseritz of Helena, MT, Mark (LaNae) Harberts of Freeman, SD, Bryan (Angie) Harberts of Sioux Falls SD, and Barb Harberts of Emery, SD, 15 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, one sister Norma (Duane) Defries of Rochester, MN, as well as many nieces and nephews and an honorary daughter, Terri Richards of Bridgewater, SD.
She was preceded in death by her husband Carl, infant son Thomas, son-in-law Kenny Olinger, her parents, sisters Verna Clausen, Edna Janda, Dorthy Rosenboom, and brothers John Baumgard and Vernon "Dotsy" Baumgard.