Ardeth June Chappelear

Ardeth J. Chappelear, 91 of Yankton, S.D., formerly of Ponca died Saturday, December 20, 2008 at the Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, South Dakota.There will be a memorial service at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Ponca, Nebraska with Pastor Sara Simmons officiating. Burial will be in the Ponca City Cemetery under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca. Online condolences may be sent at www.mohrfuneralhome.com.Ardeth was born June 4, 1917 in Ponca, Nebraska, the daughter of Charles W. and Linnie Ethel (Nelson) Gilmer.She attended Wayne State College and taught for a while in schools in rural Ponca. On June 1, 1939 she married Marvin Chappelear. The couple owned and operated the Ponca Bakery and Cafe for 20 years.Ardeth was a life long member of the United Methodist Church of Ponca and an active member of the United Methodist Women's group.Survivors include a daughter, Beverly and her husband Dennis Merkel of Crofton; two sons and their wives, Larry and Rita of South Sioux City, Nebraska and Dann and Caryn of Scottsdale, Arizona; 9 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; her parents; a sister and brother-in-law, Arlene and Vincent Engel.