Funeral services for Loretta Gedney, age 82, of Mobridge will be 10:30 AM, Monday, May 24 at the United Congregational Church in Mobridge. Pastor Keith Kraft officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. There will be visitation on Sunday starting at 2:00 PM with a prayer service starting at 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Mrs. Gedney passed away Thursday, May 20, 2010 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Loretta B. Gedney was born on June 4, 1927 to Jacob and Mary (Weiszhaar) Knecht on the Balinksy farm north of Akaska, South Dakota. The family remained in Akaska until October 1944 when they moved east of Lowry, South Dakota. On October 19, 1944 Loretta married Melvin A. Bieber and to this union three children were born, Burl, Burlene and Billy. Loretta lived in the Akaska/Lowry area for 17 years. Her and her husband Melvin had oil distributing business for 18 years. Loretta owned and operated a cafe in Lowry for 2 years. They sold their interests and moved to California in 1967. In 1976 they sold their home and moved to Auburn, Washington. Her husband, Melvin, passed away in 1979. Loretta remained in the Auburn home until 1980, at which time she married Homer Gedney of Mesa, Arizona.

Homer and Loretta sold their home in Washington and moved to Mobridge in June, 1998. Loretta had been in failing health for the past 3 or 4 years. Loretta always had a smile for everyone and could talk to anybody-known or stranger. She had a way that drew people to her and if they had some health problems she felt compassion for them even though she, herself was not feeling very good.

Loretta had a sound faith in the Lord and loved to listen to hymns and enjoyed playing the organ, but she had to give that up as she could not navigate the stairway going downstairs where her organ was located.

Loretta enjoyed and loved to cook, whether it be for 2 or 10 and her expertise with struddle making was pretty well known. A couple weeks before she died she made it a point to make struddles for her son Billy and Grandson James.

Saturday May 15, 2010, Loretta fell and was taken to Mobridge Regional Hospital and was found to have bleeding in the brain due to a stroke, and was transferred to St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck in a comatose state. She was released and transported back to Mobridge and passed away May 20, 2010, 13 days before her 83rd birthday.

Loretta is survived by her husband, Homer, son, Billy (Bonnie) Bieber and Jay D. Gedney, grandsons, Jimmy and Jason Gedney, Matt Robinson (Sarah) and Mark (Jen) Hasel.

Loretta was preceded in death by her husband Melvin, parents; Jake and Mary Knecht, one son, Burl and one daughter; Burlene.

Organist; Margaret Stadel
Congregational Hymns "How Great Thou Art", "In The Garden", "Asleep in Jesus"

Solo by Bruce Redding singing Loretta's favorite song "Beyond The Sunset"

Casketbearers are Grandsons, James & Jason Gedney, Dean Roebuck, Don Sauer, Tom Fiedler and Dean Schilling.

Honorary Bearers are All Loretta's Friends & Acquaintances.