Jacqueline Bjorke, age 87, of Huron, died Thursday, October 20, 2016, at the Huron Regional Medical Center.Her funeral service was held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, October 29th at the Grace Episcopal Church. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Jacqueline Kay Swanson was born December 11, 1928, to John and Katherine (Mavity) Swanson at Moline, Illinois. She lived in Chicago until ten years of age, when the family moved to Moline. Jackie graduated from John Deere High School, Blackburn College and the University of Illinois. She taught school in Illinois, Colorado, Utah and South Dakota.
On December 29, 1953, Jackie married Maxie Smith at Omaha, Nebraska.They lived in Denver, Colorado, Salt Lake City and Dutch John, Utah, before moving to Huron in 1969. Max died on March 3, 1981.
On August 2, 1985, Jackie married Arthur Bjorke at Huron, South Dakota. Together they enjoyed camping and boating and were known to travel by row boat down the James River from Huron to Yankton. They also liked to travel, garden, play couples bridge and wintered in Texas.Art died on January 6, 2001.
Jackie was employed by the Huron Area Senior Center as the RSVP Director for thirteen years and as the Senior Center Director for four years, retiring in 1991. She was a life member of the Huron Area Senior Center and a RSVP volunteer. Jackie was appointed by Governor George Mickelson to the Coalition on Aging and served many years on that committee. She was also a life member of NARFE and served as President of the Pheasant Chapter, Huron. She served as chairman for Meals on Wheels for several groups and organizations.
Jackie was a dedicated member of Mizpah Chapter #9 Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron and later as secretary for many years. She was a current member of the Redfield Chapter #19 Order of the Eastern Star. She was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church and served as a Sunday school teacher, member of the Vestry, President of Epiphany Guild and was a member of the Episcopal Church Women.
She enjoyed lap swimming, first at the public outdoor pool and later at the Nordby Center for Recreation where she swam many laps weekly over the years. She also did ballerina swimming. Jackie participated in local and regional Senior Games. In 2005, she was inducted into the South Dakota Senior Games Hall Of Fame.
She enjoyed playing bridge and played with several bridge clubs. Jackie liked to crochet and knit, which was a good thing as she made every one of her grandchildren an afghan. She liked to cook and host dinners, bringing out linen table cloths, china and silver was a treat for her to share her home. She enjoyed reading and shared that joy by gifting many books to her grandchildren in hopes they also find the love of reading. Jackie found working jig-saw puzzles an entertaining way to gather a few around a table to chat about world/life events without being intrusive. She was also interested in government, politics, education and gerontology. Jackie attended many community and area art, music and sports events. She encouraged others to plan for their future.
Over many years, Jackie traveled with her husband, Art. After Art's passing, Jackie found that her long-time friend, Marge Blumenauer as an excellent travel partner. Jackie traveled all over the world in her life time, from Okinawa, Japan to Alaska, Hawaii to Ireland and every part of the United States east and west with family and friends. As a life-long teacher, she would buy souvenirs as gifts for her family and friends. A gift from Jackie was not just a gift, but a learning experience of a different culture or land.
She was preceded in death by her husbands; one son, Bradley Smith; two daughters, Debra Engel and Susan Yoder; one son-in-law, Dean Engel; one daughter-in-law, Vicky Bjorke; one grandson, Travis Bales; and one great-grandson, Christopher Engel.
Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Phillip Smith of Sebastopol, California, Susie Smith of Woonsocket, Denise (Craig) Larsen of Jacksonville, North Carolina, William (Patty) Bjorke of Montgomery, New York and Douglas (Cheri) Bjorke of Huron; and one son-in-law, Glen Yoder of Wauneta, Nebraska. Jackie was blessed with twenty grandchildren whom she showered with many holiday cards and educational gifts, Aimee Robeson, Becky Smith Lesnar, Rudy Gandara, Levi Zavala, Dawn (Steve) Willadsen, Travis Engel, Jolene (Tony) Muths, Jason (Audra) Engel, Tara (Shaun Klinger) Engel, Josh Larsen, Tamara (Brad) Hazen, Shelby C. Bjorke, Andrea Grandolfo, Jos Grandolfo, Emily Grandolfo, Cory Grandolfo, Tori (Devon Gordon) Bjorke, Jessica (Andrew) Halling, Shelby R. Bjorke and Donika Bjorke. Nineteen great-grandchildren were honored to receive many greetings from Jackie as well, Maximus Meiseler, Hudson Lesnar, Cooper Lesnar, Landry Lesnar, Corey Bales, Shaylei Willadson, Hillary Mundt, Chelsea (William Hansen) Engel, Alexis Engel, Wyatt Muths, Jayden Engel, Bailey Engel, Dominick Larsen, Lauren Larsen, Samuel Blanchard, Kirin Hazen, Phillip Bjorke, Maric Klinger and Keya Klinger. She was also blessed with three great great-grandchildren, Maddox Bales, Brandtley Mundt and Novalee Mundt.