Pearl M. Coughlin

Pearl Coughlin, age 92, of De Smet, SD, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2023, at the De Smet Memorial Hospital.  Funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in De Smet, SD.  Father Richard Baumberger will officiate with music provided by Valerie Hawkins. Active pallbearers will be Pearl’s grandsons with honorary pallbearers being Pearl’s granddaughters. The service will be live-streamed via the Crawford-Osthus website.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Monday, February 13, 2023, at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in De Smet, SD.

Burial will be at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cemetery at a later date.

Pearl Margie Coughlin was born on February 14, 1930, to Ludolph and Marion (Paulson) Smith in Lake Norden, SD. She graduated from De Smet High school in 1948, after being crowned De Smet’s first official Homecoming Queen. Upon graduation, Pearl married Louis LeVere on May 28, 1948, at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in De Smet, SD. Pearl worked for several years at the Harry Eggen law office before dedicating herself to life as a farmwife and mother on the couple’s farm south west of De Smet. In 2003, Pearl and LeVere moved to a home within De Smet. In 2019, Pearl moved into The Village Assisted Living Center where she was delighted to fill her time with friendship and activities.

Pearl enjoyed children and cared for many extended family members and neighborhood children. She was well known for her love of cooking which she often shared with the children she cared for throughout her life. She also loved arts and crafts such as coloring, woodworking, sewing, and embroidery. Pearl was also fond of crossword puzzles, reading, and playing piano for those around her.

She was an active member of the Catholic Church where she taught CCD classes and participated as a song-leader. Pearl was also a member of the VFW and the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed working as a census taker and election official.

Pearl is survived by her children: Susanne (Brad) Albrecht of Arlington, SD, James P. (Debby) Coughlin of Iroquois, SD, John (Ralene) Coughlin of De Smet, SD, Sheila (Monte) Gummer of Brookings, SD, and Shelly Soukup of Reno, NV; fourteen grandchildren: Chelsea Wipf, Victoria Albrecht; Lexi Johnson, Brittany Dixon, Alex Coughlin; Scott Coughlin, Ramie Coughlin, Andrew Coughlin, Kasy Surat; Bailey Fitzgerald, Mariah Gummer; Jacqueline Soukup, Jordan Soukup, Julia Soukup; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ludolph and Marion (Paulson) Smith; husband, Louis LeVere; son, Joseph Coughlin; and sister, Gladys Hughes.

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