Mercedes E. Ahlers, 97, of Brookings, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at the Estelline Nursing and Care Center. 

Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the church with a Rosary beginning at 10:30 a.m. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

 Mercedes E. Heinricy was born on Feb. 2, 1920, at Dell Rapids Hospital in Dell Rapids, the daughter of John and Kate (Penning) Heinricy. She attended school through the eighth grade at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Dell Rapids. She then stayed on the farm and helped neighbor women with newborns. 

She met Sylvester Ahlers at a dance in Dell Rapids and waited for him while he served in the Army in the Pacific area. 

She married Sylvester on Jan. 23, 1946. They farmed for 11 years by Dell Rapids, and Madison for six years. They moved into Madison until moving to Brookings in 1964. Mercedes was employed at Hillcrest School in the cafeteria for 14 years, retiring in 1987.

 She was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, the Ladies Guild, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Hoffman Townsend Post No. 64. She especially enjoyed embroidery, handiwork, and playing cards with friends and grandchildren.

She is survived by five daughters, Bernadette (Don) DeGreef, of Aurora, Bernadine O’Konek, of Topeka, Kan., Rosetta (Harlan) Hilleson of Veblen, Elizabeth Veneklasen of Rapid City and Jackie (Warren) Pieschke of Watertown; two sons, Virgil (Nancy) Ahlers, of Volga and Duane (Donna) Ahlers, of Brookings; 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry and Clarence; a sister, Regina; her husband Sylvester; a son, Paul; grandson, Scott Veneklasen and son-in-law, Lenny Veneklasen.