Joan Marie George, 75, of Hill City, South Dakota, passed away Tuesday February 21st in the Hospital surrounded by her family.

Joan was born in Hettinger, North Dakota on February 1st, 1948, to Amelia (Reidl) Lemer and Joseph Lemer. When Joan was young, the family moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where Joan graduated in 1966 from Rapid City High School.

Joan met the love of her life, Tommy John Blake George, while working at the Sioux Drive Inn Movie Theatre in Rapid City. The couple was married on February 15th, 1969. In January of 1970 the couple welcomed their son Todd Joseph George. Soon after, the couple moved to Hill City, South Dakota where they pursued their dream to start a business in the Black Hills, The Rafter J Bar Ranch, where Joan continued to work until recently. Her quiet ideas springing brilliance to some of the foundational key things to the family business over 50+ years still.

In 1981, the couple welcomed their second child, Laura Marie George. Joan was a Sunday School Teacher at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Hill City for many years during her children’s childhoods, which her life character reflected doing everything she could for her family.

Joan had a quiet strength that would be described as forged out of iron. For how many health challenges she had in her life; no-one ever heard a complaint from her. Instead, she smiled and showed love and kindness to those around her. She spread God’s good news in this unique way. Not only by teaching Sunday School for many prior years, but by her actions of courage, strength, perseverance, generosity, kindness, and love. Joan loved spending time with her family cooking, playing scrabble, and gardening. She was completely dedicated to loving Jesus, her family, and living a good simple life with joy. Her character in strength, resilience, and kindness will be greatly missed… along with her quiet hilarious sense of humor.

Joan is survived by her one son Todd George (and wife Nadiya George) of Rapid City along with granddaughter Alina Oleinik (Johnson) and great grandson Thomas Johnson of Rapid City; Joan’s one daughter Laura George, grandson’s Blake and Jayce, (and fiancé Michael Fisher) of Phoenix AZ; Sister Mary Jane DeWitt Abilene TX and John Lemer of Rapid City SD. Joan is preceded in death by her husband Tommy John Blake George, mother Amelia, father Joseph, and brother Jim Lemer.

Joan’s very generous heart could continue on in memorials of each person’s giving choice.