Emma Mertens, 81

Published/Last Modified on Friday, Feb 05, 2010 - 08:46:11 am CST

Emma Mertens, 81, of Presho, died Monday, Feb. 1, 2010, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.

Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kennebec. Prayer service is at 8 p.m. at the church in Kennebec. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kennebec with burial at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Kennebec.

Emma Frances Brodrecht was born on Sept. 1, 1928, to Henry and Catherine (Hemesath) Brodrecht in Presho. She grew up in Presho on the family farm and attended country school.

Emma married Richard E. Mertens on Jan. 8, 1947, in Presho. They made their home on the Mertens homestead southeast of Presho.

She was a partner on the farm with her husband for 46 years. She hauled countless meals to the field, and drove trucks, tractors and combines. She always had a home-cooked meal which included her famous mashed potatoes, but her favorite past-time was watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up. She attended many of their sporting and music events throughout the years and played hours of cards with them.

Even though she received dialysis and spent her weeks at Parkwood in Pierre, she lived for the weekends when she was able to come home, have her hair fixed by Mary Lou, eat supper at Hutch’s with the ladies and spend time with her family and friends.

She was a charter member of the Town & Country Club and also a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church and Altar Society in Kennebec.

Emma is survived by her children, Eugene and Betty Jean Mertens, Rich and Jean Mertens and Kathy and Gary Diehm; brothers, Bill (Marie) Brodrecht and Leo (Delphine) Brodrecht; sister, Mary Ann (Virgil) Schoenfelder; six grandchildren, Tim and Lorri (Mertens) Wagner, Trusty Mertens, Adrian and Jennifer (Mertens) Rodriguez, Janna Mertens and fiance Eric Riggs, Ryan Husman and Lorlen Robbins and Nicole Husman; four step-grandchildren, Eric Diehm and fiance Andrea, Randi Diehm, Nikki Diehm and Kelli Diehm; seven great-grandchildren, Tate, Kacie, Tance and Kenzie Wagner, Chace Seaboy, Easton Robbins and Cielo Rodriguez; three step-great-grandchildren, Damian Abrahamson, Conway Collins and Memphis Hawk and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sister, Helen Urban; brother, Charles Brodrecht; four brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; four nephews and one great-nephew.

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