Dolores Kolbeck

Dolores “Squeak” Kolbeck, 95, of Salem passed away on December 1, 2022, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell, SD.  Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 6 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Salem.  A rosary will be prayed at 3 pm on Monday at Kinzley Funeral Home.  Visitation with family present will begin at 6 pm at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, followed by a prayer service at 7 pm.

Dolores “Squeak” Irene (Gaspar) Kolbeck was born April 11, 1927, to Jacob and Ellen (Liveringhouse) Gaspar in Bridgewater, SD. She attended St. Stephen’s Catholic School through eight grades and four years of high school in Bridgewater Public High School.  She graduated in 1945 and then attended Notre Dame Jr. College in Mitchell for elementary teaching.  After graduating, she taught country school in Emery Township to 18 students.  In 1948, she married Ray Kolbeck.  After marriage, she was a farmer/homemaker and mother to 12 children.  Ray and Dolores were married 66 years.

Dolores was involved in many activities: St. Mary’s Altar Society, Women’s Catholic Order of Foresters, American Legion Auxiliary, Christian Mother’s and St. Mary’s Quilters.  She held office in all these organizations.

Even though her hands were full with taking care of her family, she made time to enjoy her favorite hobbies which included embroidering towels & tablecloths, quilting with the ladies, singing in the funeral choir, enjoying a cup of coffee with her buddies after daily mass, gardening & canning and volunteering for many school activities and helping with fundraisers for the music and sports programs.

Grateful for having shared her life were six brothers and four sisters and her children: Jean (Mike) Seivert, Diane (Nick) Kranz, Jack (Muriel) Kolbeck, Shirley (Jay) DeBoer, Nancy (Curt) Matzen, Michelle (Doug) Zelmer, Bill (Dawn) Kolbeck, Deb (Mike) Bennett, Tom (Colleen) Kolbeck, Cathy (Steve) Eichacker, Connie (Greg) Schmeichel,  Cheri (Terry) Feterl, 32 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.