Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Elizabeth Ann Schumer

Elizabeth Ann "Betty Ann" Charlson Schumer, 72, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died Saturday, May 30, at Sanford USD Medical Center. 

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, S.D.  Family was present for visitation from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at George Boom Funeral Home & Cremation Services. 

Elizabeth Ann O'Brien was born Aug. 6, 1942, to John and Leona (Popetz) O'Brien in Omaha. In 1954, her family moved to Kimball. She graduated from Kimball High School in 1960 and went on to attend College of St. Mary in Omaha. She moved back to Kimball and met Paul Charlson, and they were married in 1963. They moved to Sidney, then to Mitchell in 1963 where she worked at Western Contracting. They moved to Sioux Falls and she worked at Fantles Department store from 1964-1969 and then at Northwestern Bank. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom until 1984 when she began a long career at Communication Services for the Deaf.  She started working at Carroll Institute in 2002 where she was a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor.  Betty Ann married Terry Schumer in 2009 and they moved to Savannah, Ga., where she worked as an interpreter at Savannah College of Art & Design. In 2011, they moved back to Sioux Falls and she worked with both deaf and hard of hearing members and set up Sign Language classes at Southeast Technical Institute. 

Betty Ann enjoyed knitting, ceramics, crewel embroidering, coloring with colored pencils and reading.  Over the years, she belonged to a group called the KnitWits who specialized in knitting, crafting and socializing for over 25 years. 

She was an active member of St. Michael Catholic Church where she started the Sunday Morning Bible Study for Pre-School age children; past member of Sioux Falls Association for the Deaf, South Dakota Association for the Deaf and National Association for the Deaf; she was a Certified Sign Language Interpreter, a member of Right to Life and volunteer with Catholic Office for the Deaf.  She was a past member of the Cathedral for 30-plus years; she belonged to SD and National Chemical Dependency Counselors and was active in the Cursillo Movement, and Communion and Liberation.

Betty Ann is survived by her children, Joel (Nicole) Charlson of Baton Rouge, La., Amy (Ian) Stromberg of Sioux Falls, S.D., Kristi Charlson of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Katie (Cory) Lindemann of Sioux Falls, S.D; step children, Ron (Catherine) Schumer, Deborah Cooler and Teresa (Mike) Crosby; brothers, Jack (Dee) O'Brien, Jim (Patricia) O'Brien, and Patrick (Kathleen) O'Brien; brother-in-law, Robert Morgan; and 12 grandchildren, Justin Barbetta, Karlee Barbetta, Dain Neuharth, Madison Bock, Ethan Charlson, Samuel Bock, Owen Charlson, Chloe Stromberg, Dalton Lindemann, Dylan Charlson, Stella Charlson and Daxon Lindemann. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Terry Schumer; parents; brother, Larry; sister, Mary Kay Morgan; and Paul Charlson.

Betty Ann would appreciate you wearing something colorful for her services.  Memorial donations may be made to Feeding South Dakota or the Mission.

 
 
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