Mildred L. "Bee" Tanner

View Bee's Recorded Funeral Service

Mildred L. “Bee” Tanner, 102, of Gettysburg, passed away Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at Avera Oahe Manor, Gettysburg surrounded by her family.

Funeral services were 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at the United Methodist Church, Gettysburg with Pastor Jeff Adel presiding.  Burial followed in the Gettysburg Cemetery.  Visitation wasw from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 8, 2022 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.

Mildred Louise “Bee” Kammer was born December 1, 1919, in rural Potter County, SD, to Thomas and Ethel (Atkins) Kammer. The oldest of two, Mildred and her family lived near Gettysburg, SD, before settling in northwest Potter County. Mildred and her brother, George, attended school in Gettysburg.

After knowing each other for years, Mildred married Earle “Pete” Tanner on August 20, 1937, in Gettysburg, SD. They made their home on the Tanner farmstead in Lincoln Township, Potter County. To this union, six children were born. Mildred and Earle built a legacy together as their farmstead joined the Century Farm Club in 2014. Mildred lived on the farmstead until Earle’s death in 2015.

Mildred, a lifelong resident of Potter County, dedicated her life to her family home, service, and agriculture. During her school years, Mildred helped raise money for the construction of Mt. Rushmore which was something she was very proud of. Following her marriage to Earle, she was involved in the farm and ranch operations, including the family threshing crew and poultry business. Mildred was also active in the community. She was a member of Community Club, Cattlewomen, American Legion Auxiliary, United Methodist Church, and served on the Potter County Fair Board. Mildred served as a leader of the Appomattox Go-Getters 4-H Club for over thirty years, and she was a sixty-year member of the Lincoln Appomattox Extension Club. She shared her knowledge of homemaking skills and love for agriculture with many youth throughout the Potter County area. Mildred and Earle attended and hosted many barn dances with friends, went to Community Club on the weekends, and enjoyed partaking in the SD State Fair with their family. Mildred was a talented seamstress, painter, and leatherworker. She and Earle made many special gifts for family and friends. Mildred also enjoyed reading and writing, watching Lawrence Welk and Bob Ross, cooking/baking and canning, going to town on Saturdays, spending time with family and friends, and Burg Bucks.

Mildred is survived by her six children, Donald (Tonya) Tanner of Gettysburg, SD; Shirley (Joe) Warfel of Custer, SD; Delores (the late Larry) Larrington of Wilbur, NE; Mary (Kermit) Wager of Gettysburg, SD; Jacqueline (Loren) Ritter of Aberdeen, SD; Ronnie (Lila) Tanner of Gettysburg, SD; twenty-one grandchildren; many great and great-great grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mildred is preceded in death by her husband of 78 years, Earle; her parents; her brother, George Jacob Kammer; one son-in-law, one grandson, two great-grandchildren, her mother and father-in-law; and twelve sisters and brothers-in-law.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Bee’s arrangements.