Loretta K. Abeln

Loretta K. Abeln, 91, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Sunday, September 22, 2024, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with Father Greg Tschakert officiating.
A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow Mass at the parish hall.
Interment will be at the Groton Union Cemetery.
Visitation will be 6-7 p.m., Friday, Oct 11, at Schriver's Memorial Chapel with a 7:00 p.m. liturgical wake service.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the PEO Chapter AC to help young ladies receiving scholarships for their education as requested by Loretta. Please make checks directly to Chapter AC and give to the family or the PEO Chapter.
Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and uploaded to our website following the service.
Loretta K. Abeln was born on November 12, 1932 to Andrew and Magdalena (Ehnes) Meier in Roscoe, South Dakota. She attended Glover rural school and took High School by mail at American School. She attended for one year at Northern State Teachers' College.
She then taught school in Ordway, South Dakota, for one year and then managed Fanny Farmers Candy Shop in Aberdeen for one year. She married Alvin Abeln in Aberdeen on June 27, 1953. They lived in Brookings, Fort Benning, Junction City, Kansas, and Germany while Alvin was in the service for one year. They returned to the farm in Groton.
Loretta was a successful Avon representative for 55 years and used Avon products until the day she passed away. She was a Jaycette District VP for 2 years, PEO, Alter Society, and several bridge clubs, marathons and duplicate. She was very competitive playing cards and loved to win! She belonged to Olive Grove and Moccasin Creek golf clubs. Alvin and she spent several winters in Arizona. Alvin passed away in 1997 and she moved from the farm to a home she built in Aberdeen in 2001.
She belonged to the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Groton and now Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Aberdeen. Alvin and Loretta were big believers in education and hard work. They supported all their grandchildren with college expenses. Her fondest memories with the family were making some of her favorite dishes: egg and noodles, rhubarb crisp, chocolate fudge topping toffee, and poppy seed rolls.
Grateful for having shared her life are her five children, grandchildren, and spouses, Doug (Della) Abeln and children, Bethany and Mark (Kelly) and child Kaden Kampa; Don (Vonne) Abeln and children, Isaac (Nikki), and children Dillon and Alex, Philip (Lindsey), and children Kali and Aubrey, Tony (Kayla) and children Selah, Shema and Lily; Dale (Dianne) Abeln and children, Lisa (Mitch) Thompson and children Kate and Anna, Adam (Katherine); and Rob (Lisa) Abeln and children, Zachary, Taylor and Brady, and Denice (Doug) Dunker; she is also survived by her sister Shirley Gellhaus and brother Andy Meier.
She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Magdalena and Andrew Meier; spouse, Alvin Abeln; and ten brothers and sisters, George Meier, Betty Daschle, Henry Meier, Bernie Meier, Larry Meier, Roy Meier, Margie Veith, Carolyn Heier, Adele Meier and Frances Meier (died in infancy).
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Loretta K. Abeln, please visit our floral store.