Colleen Koeck, 82, of Miller, passed away peacefully Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Good Samaritan Society in Miller.

Memorial Service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 19, 2022, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller, with Father Paul Josten officiating.  Burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, at a later date.

Colleen was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Alvin Leroy and Ruby Kathleen (Tilley) Evans on May 12, 1940. Colleen was raised in Sioux Falls through the 9th grade. Her family moved to Miller, where she graduated from high school. After graduating, she moved to Orange County, CA to live by her sister, where she met Jimmy W. Pettit. They were married and were blessed with their three children. Jim died of cancer, leaving her with the three all under school age. Raising the children by herself in California proved to be a daunting task, so she moved back to Miller for a more wholesome environment. It was in Miller where she met and married Don Koeck, and they were blessed with one child to this union – making a family of six. Colleen loved all her children and grandchildren as they were added.

Besides the children, little things in life and the things of God’s creation gave her much satisfaction. Colleen loved the Lord, her God and Savior and joined the family of God as a young woman. Only a few things took her out of her home; one was working as a teacher’s aide in the Miller Schools. Something she always loved to do was shop for her children’s clothes even from a young age. Later, she shopped for the grandkids, having a stash of games and toys ready at any time. At family gatherings, she would have games planned and funny prizes to give, some from that “stash”! She was a very creative person in the artistic area as well as storytelling. Colleen should have pursued her art. She liked to make her own jokes and have a “good chuckle” as she would say. Some of Colleen’s spiritual gifts were hospitality and discernment. She could throw a meal together with whatever she had in her pantry.

When living in Watertown, Colleen was involved in Cursillo and Koinonia retreats, as well as Bible studies. She and Don would frequently (on impulse) jump into one of their ever-changing vehicles to unknown destinations at the beginning of the venture. One of those trips ended up in California to attend a nephew’s wedding, surprising the bride and groom and their families who welcomed them. In her days at The Miller Plaza and Good Samaritan Home, she looked forward to the Bingo games and those prizes, of course. In the social realm, Colleen was in her element when it came to “class.” She became a member of the “Red Hat Society.” Did she ever take to that! A collection of red and purple hats filled up her closet – some of which she and son Paul designed. There she was, Mrs. America! Colleen will be missed by her family and a plethora of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Survivors include her children: Paul Pettit, Miller, Anna (Lee) Nolz, Miller, John Koeck, Watertown; her sisters: Ramona (Bruce) Evans Wanger and Dawnelle Evans Feller, Durant, OK; brother, Tom Evans, Ardmore, OK; stepbrother, David (Joanie) Blachford, Miller; sister-in-law, Charlotte Evans; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Colleen was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: Jimmy Pettit and Don Koeck; son, Michael Pettit; two grandsons: Greg Nolz and Alex Pettit; brother, Alvin (Butch) Evans; and sister-in-law, Patsy (Pettit) Evans.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Colleen’s arrangements.

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