Alma Olga Bierwagen

Alma Olga (Brost) Bierwagen was born near Parkston, South Dakota, on July 25, 1903, the daughter of John and Lydia (Mueller) Brost.  She was baptized in the home on August 9, 1903, by their Lutheran Pastor, Rev. J. A. Grueber.  At the age of 14 she was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Tripp, South Dakota, by Pastor August Hein.

At the age of four, her parents moved to a farm a few miles north of Delmont, South Dakota.  At the age of seven, her parents moved into Delmont.  She attended grade school in "The Hope Christian Day School" in Delmont and attended the first two years of high school in Delmont, which was all that was available at that time.  She finished high school at Wartburg Jr. College in Waverly, Iowa, in 1922 and then attended a summer session at Springfield Normal and a regular session at Northern Normal in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  She taught school near Elgin, South Dakota, and in Douglas County, South Dakota.  She also taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and was a part-time organist.

On November 16, 1928, she married Michael Emanuel Bierwagen in the Hope Lutheran Church in Delmont.

They lived near Delmont until December of 1929 when they moved to a ranch near Milesville, South Dakota.

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church at Milesville, where she served as organist, Sunday School teacher, was a member of the Ladies Aid and LWML.

In 1961 she and Emanuel moved to Philip, where they were members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.  She was an LWML member, and enjoyed helping with Vacation Bible School.  She taught piano lessons for many years while in Philip.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, Daniel Bierwagen and his wife, Sherry, of Arnold, Missouri; a daughter-in-law, Diane Bierwagen of Lafayette, California; two grandsons, Joel Bierwagen of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and John Bierwagen of Lafayette, California; two granddaughters, Beth Rusert and her husband, Mike, of Ballwin, Missouri, and Lisa Kirchman and her husband, John, of Columbus, Indiana; two great-grandchildren, Kim and Karen Kirchman; two sisters, Clara Krause of Mesa, Arizona, and Agnes Norris of Bella Vista, Arkansas; a brother-in-law, Paul Bierwagen of Valparaiso, Indiana; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Alma was preceded in death by her husband, M. Emanuel Bierwagen on August 7, 1986; a son, Elmer Bierwagen, on December 31, 1984; and a sister, Laura Krause.

A memorial has been established.

Services
Tuesday, February 18, 1997
2:00 p.m.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Pastor Glenn A. Schultz

Music
Hallie Albrecht - Organist
Joe Bierwagen & Elvera Moos - Vocalists

Ushers
Dwayne "Sonny" Newman - Jerry Neville

Active Pallbearers
Joe Bierwagen - John Bierwagen
Tyrone Moos - Harlan Moos
Mike Albrecht - Paul Staben
Wendell Seifert - Johann Ringers

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota

Service Details

Services
Tuesday, February 18, 1997
2:00 p.m.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Philip