Obituary of Edna E. Schoppert

Edna E. Schoppert left all of her earthly cares behind on May 12, 2017. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at Avera Sister James Majestic Bluffs Care Center at the age of 93.

Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD is caring for her remains and a private graveside memorial is planned for Menno Cemetery, Menno, SD at a later date.

Edna Emma (Fischer) Schoppert was born to Robert and Karoline (nee Preszler) Fischer on May 6, 1924, on a farm SW of Menno, SD. She was the 10th of what was to be 12 children.

She was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Menno, SD, November 23, 1924, by Pastor Otto Bruntesh. Sponsors were Arthur and Rosalie Klaudt.

The family moved to a farm at Rockham, SD, where the last two siblings were born and where her mother passed away during the final childbirth on May 26, 1927. The oldest sister, Frieda, took over the role of mother at 16 years of age.

The family then moved to a farm near Troy, SD, where Edna completed eight years of public school. It was here she learned to play the harmonica and would play it throughout her life. She was also confirmed in Troy by Rev. Okdale.

At the start of World War II, her brothers all went off to war. The remaining family moved to Watertown, SD to work.

There she met Andrew C. Flattum. They were married on January 22, 1942. Three sons were born from this union; William, Melvin, and Richard. They moved to Waubay, SD, then to Sioux Falls, SD, and then finally to Menno, SD, in 1948.

Edna and Andy separated in the 50’s and divorced. As a single mom raising three boys, she found work locally as a cook/waitress for Lee’s Café, Klaudt’s Café, and Scooney’s Café for 12 years.

She met Ben Schoppert and they were married on April 28, 1963. She also learned to drive a car and was able to expand on her work experiences. She worked 20 years between Dale Electronics and MTron Electronics in Yankton, SD, and 7 years for Hunter Enterprises in Freeman, SD. She loved working in these industries and enjoyed the many friends she made there. She was most proud of going to night school and earning her GED Diploma in 1976 at the age of 52.

Her husband, Ben Schoppert, passed away on November 29, 1985.

She lived in her home in Menno, SD for 50 years. When she turned 90 years old, she surrendered her driving privileges to move to Walnut Village in Yankton, SD. She thrived there for almost 3 years before she moved to Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, SD.

She is survived by her sons; Melvin Flattum of Renton, WA and Richard (Debbie) Flattum of Lilliwaup, WA; sisters-in-law, Selma Fischer of Menno, SD and Maxine Fischer of Yankton, SD; 7 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and longtime family friend, Lillian Georgeson.

Edna is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Karoline Fischer; 11 siblings; husband, Ben Schoppert; and her son, William Flattum.

We will miss her and those harmonica performances.