Louise Mercer
Louise A. Mercer, age 88, of Gary, SD, passed away Sunday, September 5, 2021, at the Sanford Canby Medical Center. Funeral service was. Friday, September 10, 2021, at the United Methodist Church in Gary, SD, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial was in the Grandview Cemetery, Gary, South Dakota. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel, Canby, MN, is entrusted with the arrangements.
Louise Amanda (Fricka) Mercer was born on January 19, 1933, to Louis August and Annie Evelyne (Hoverson) Fricka in Altamont, South Dakota. She was raised in Gary, South Dakota, where she graduated from Gary High School in 1952. She worked for four years at the South Dakota School for the Blind and was a homemaker and provided childcare in her home for many years.
She was united in marriage to Emmett Lawrence Mercer on September 16, 1956. The couple lived in Gary, where they raised their family. Emmett passed away on September 26, 1998. Louise continued to live in Gary. Louise passed away Sunday, September 5, 2021, at the Sanford Medical Center in Canby, MN, at the age of 88 years, eight months and 17 days.
Louise was a member of the Watertown Seventh-Day Adventist Church since 1965. She read the Bible daily and studied her Sabbath school quarterly lesson book. She enjoyed visiting the library and reading, gardening, crafting, card club and playing cards. She had fond memories of her family vacations, traveling with her family and all of the family gatherings. She was a member of the Just Us Club and the Deuel County Home Extension.
Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Rebecka (Michael) Buckingham of Yadkinville, NC, Tennison Mercer of Gary, SD, David (Jodi) Mercer of Canby, MN, Vivian (Gary) Fokken of Canby, MN, and Marvin (Brenda) Mercer of Concord, NC; grandchildren, Joshua (Heather) Buckingham of Shadyside, OH, Rachel (Heath) McLaurin of Pfafftown, NC, Michele (Joshua) Hardy of Dobson, NC, Tanner Mercer of Windom, MN, Kiley Mercer of Al Ain, UAE, Blake Mercer of Mankato, MN, Kacie (Justin) Zajic of Chamberlain, SD, Kendra Cleveland of Canby, MN, Kami (Tom) Eitreim of Sioux Falls, SD, Kora Cleveland of Sioux Falls, SD, Kooper (Jennifer) Cleveland of Sioux Falls, SD, Dakota (Sarah) Mercer of Concord, NC, Blaine Mercer of Concord, NC, Chancy Mercer of Concord, NC, Michael (Tina) Fokken of Revillo, SD, Andrew Fokken of Ivanhoe, MN, Joshua Fokken of Canby, MN, and Jessica (Brian) Menk of Nicollet, MN; great-grandchildren, Alyvia Buckingham, Addyson Buckingham, McKinleigh McLaurin, Aubreigh McLaurin, Hadleigh McLaurin, Nikayda Zajic, Riday Zajic, Thorsten Zajic, Ava Fokken, Bentley Fokken, Erich Fokken, and Noah Fokken.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Annie Fricka; brother, Iver Fricka; infant sister, Caroline Fricka; infant daughter, Gaye Mercer; daughter-in-law, Heleine Mercer; and infant great-grandchildren, Emmeigh and Judah McLaurin.