Lori O'Brien

Lori O’Brien, age 60, of Milbank, SD, passed away on December 19, after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, at Central United Methodist Church in Milbank. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Milbank City Cemetery.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are now able to gather for visitations and services. The use of face masks by attendees is recommended. For those who prefer or require continued precautions, webcasting and/or livestreaming will be viewable under this obituary.

Casket bearers will be her nephews: Austin Loeschke, Alex Loeschke, Steve Kienholz, Ron Marko, John Scheuring, and Ted Wilson.

Honorary bearers will be her great-nephews: Trevor Sangess, Levi Zochert, Corbin Zochert, Camdyn Zochert, Clint Marko, Jackson Marko, Grant Scheuring, Levi Boyle; great-nieces: Kylie Sagness, Alyssa Zochert, Megan Marko, Courtney Scheuring, and Carleigh Boyle.

Lori Ann Loeschke was born on December 27, 1959, in Ortonville, MN.  She was the daughter of Vernon and Ruth (Schellberg) Loeschke.  Lori graduated from Grant-Deuel School as co-valedictorian in 1978.  She attended one year at Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD, and went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota, Mankato, in 1980.  She began her career in Mankato at St. Joseph Hospital as a medical transcriptionist and worked in various institutions for 33 years.

Lori was united in marriage with Joel O’Brien on August 20, 1988, on her parent’s farm. Lori and Joel farmed together for 32 years.

Lori enjoyed cooking and gardening and canning all her produce.  She lovingly gave away any excess produce.  Lori was a wonderful cook and won many contests.  She was a faithful member of Unity Square and went five days a week. Fishing with her nephews and making sauerkraut and baking cookies with them in their younger years were the highlights of her life.

Lori is survived by her husband of 32 years, Joel O’Brien of Milbank, SD; brothers: Gary (Marsha) Kienholz; Wayne (Tracy) Loeschke; sister, Cheryl (Neil) Zochert; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Dixie Korth and David Korth; nephews: Austin and Alex Loeschke, Steve (Samantha) Kienholz, Wyatt (Sarah) Zockert, Ron (Mindy) Marko; nieces: Amy (Mike) Sagness, Casey (Curtis) Huffman, Alicia (Tyler) Adelman, Crystal (John) Scheuring, Heather (Ted) Wilson; great-nieces: Kylie Sagness, Alyssa Zochert, Courtney Scheuring, Carleigh Boyle, Megan Marko; great-nephews: Corbin and Camdyn Huffman, Levi Zochert, Grant Scheuring, Levi Boyle, Jackson and Clint Marko.

Lori was preceded in death by her parents; maternal and paternal grandparents; mother-in-law, Vi Rickard; sister-in-law, Deb Widen, and brother-in-law, Larry Marko.

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