LORETTA JEAN AAKER BROCKEL “Jean” to her many friends, was born August 23, 1935 at Bison, SD to Vernon and Viola (Hafner) Aaker. She grew up and attended school in Bison and when the family moved to Butte, MT, she attended school there. Following her schooling, Jean worked for Black Hills Power and Light in Rapid City as a billing clerk.
Jean was united in marriage to Ted Brockel on November 24, 1956 at Bison, SD. She worked for Grand Electric and then in the Perkins County Auditors office. Four daughters, Peggy, Vicki, Cathy, Janet, and a son Carl was born to this union. Jean was a devoted mother and worked side by side with her husband building their farm and ranch over the 51 years of their marriage. In addition to the many responsibilities she had on the farm, she selflessly provided for her family with her excellent cooking and generous hospitality to the many people they welcomed into their home.
Jean came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior in May of 1974 under the ministry of Rev. Albert Delzer. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher for many years.
She has been in failing health the past few years and cared for at home by her family and caregiver Merilee Welton. Jean passed from this life early Friday morning, June 27, at her home near Bison.
Surviving family members include her husband, Ted; 4 daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Ridge Veal, Vicki and Phil Hahn, all of Bison, SD; Cathy and Tom Durkin, Rapid City, SD; Janet and Kent LaDue, Meadow, SD; 9 grandchildren, Benjamin Veal, Todd (Kim) Veal, Penny (Ben) Goold, Ryan Veal, Allison Hahn, Mary Durkin, Brittney LaDue, Bethany LaDue, Brian LaDue; 1 brother and sister-in-law, LeRoy and Ruth Aaker, Casper, WY; 3 sisters and brothers-in-law, Eloise and Dean Penor, Bison, SD; Joyce and Darrell Wulf, Vale, SD; Delila and DuWayne Wagner, Casper, WY; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Carl Vernon Brockel in June of 1965; one sister and brother-in-law, Patsy and John Taylor; one brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Irene Aaker; and a nephew Brian Brockel.