Aberdeen: Sister Del Rey Thieman, 77, a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown.
Mass of Christian burial for Sister Del Rey will be Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at 11 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Presentation Convent, Aberdeen.
A scriptural wake service will be Sunday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Visitation is from 4-7 p.m. Sunday.
The Rev. John Lantsberger and the Rev. David Krogman will be the celebrants.
Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, with Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main St., Aberdeen, in charge of arrangements.
Barbara Joann was born Nov. 13, 1935, on a farm near Wessington to Elizabeth (Matthews) Thieman and Henry Thieman. She attended elementary and secondary schools in Wessington and was valedictorian for both. She entered Presentation Convent on Jan. 1, 1955, and made her first profession of vows on Aug. 10, 1957.
Sister Del Rey graduated from Presentation College in Aberdeen in 1957 and received her BA degree from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Mo., in 1960. Sister earned a Master's Degree from St. Louis University in 1967, did post-graduate work in Theology of Religious Life at St. Louis University 1974-75 and at the Institute of Spiritual Formation, Loyola University, 1986-87.
After teaching high school in Mitchell and Dell Rapids, she assumed the ministry of formation of new members for the Presentation Sisters. Lay people in Aberdeen learned of her work with the Presentation community and asked her to provide her services of spiritual formation to them as well. This led to Sister Del Rey beginning a full-time ministry to adults of various faith backgrounds in spiritual direction and retreat work.
In 1982, Sister Del Rey was elected vice president of the Presentation sisters. Upon completing her term in office, Sister moved to Sioux Falls and continued her ministry of spiritual direction and retreats, and ecumenical ministry.
Sister Del Rey is survived by her community of Presentation Sisters; two sisters: Jan Almquist of Minneapolis, Minn., and Mary Neal of Salem, Ore.; and nieces and nephews.
Sister Del Rey was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Elizabeth Thieman.
Memorial preference is to the Presentation Hispanic Ministries.
Casket bearers are: Jack, Tom, Eric, Ben Almquist and Marvin, Matthew and Lyle Rowen.
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