Joan Marcella McNally died May 5, 2024, at Clarkson Health Care in Rapid City, SD at the age of 95.  The McNally family celebrates her life and legacy as they grieve this significant loss.  Joan was born October 8, 1928, in St. Paul, Minnesota to Philip Young and Marcella Theresa (Ratchford) Schweitzer.  She grew up in St. Paul attending Nativity Grade School and St. Joseph Academy for high school.  Upon high school graduation in 1946, she began her university studies at the College of St. Catherine St Paul, later transferring to the University of Minnesota to get a BS degree in Occupational Therapy in August of 1951.

Joan married Ralph E. McNally on June 28, 1952.  Five daughters and one son were born to their union.  Joan and Ralph's growing family moved many times throughout Minnesota and Iowa before Lampert Lumber Company transferred Ralph to Rapid City, SD in 1960.  In Rapid City they found their true home.  They maintained a home in Rapid City and added a cabin near Lead, SD in 1977.  Their home in Rapid City and cabin near Lead were places of hospitality where many Christmas and July 4 celebrations were held.

Joan leaves her family with a strong legacy of love and caregiving, of education, and of work and faith.  With six children under eight years of age, life was busy and frugality was the practice.   It was many years before their children had more than three-fourths of a sandwich for lunch or a full stick of gum.  Hand me downs or "ups" kept them in clothing.  Joan could stretch a pound of hamburger!  She also shared abundant love and care and could be a "Mama Bear" when she felt one of her children was wronged. Joan and Ralph raised their large family on a single salary until their youngest began school full-time.   It was a source of great pride that all their children have college degrees.

Joan was proud that she never applied for a job but rather was asked by employers to work at their facilities.  She was a true pioneer in the Occupational Therapy field at a time when many women did not have college educations.  Joan worked as a registered OT at the New Underwood Nursing Home, at Rapid City Rehab Hospital and later at Rapid City Regional Hospital.   Joan was named Employee of the Year in 2006 at Rapid City Regional Hospital among 3,000 staff members.  Joan received the SD Outstanding Older Worker of the Year for 2006.    She helped develop the area's first hand clinic to serve patients with trauma or severe arthritis of the hand.  Joan was admired and valued by many who were trained by her and worked with her, and by her patients who were helped by her.  She worked until she was 79 years old and retired in 2007.

Joan's enduring Christian faith strengthened and sustained her through life's joys and trials.  She was widowed at a young age when her husband, Ralph, died in 1984.  Her resiliency, courage, and grit has been admired by her children and many others.  Joan has been a member of Blessed Sacrament Church since 1960.  She attended mass regularly, helped with the funeral ministry, was part of a prayer group, and helped clean the church.  In retirement she volunteered for Birthright of Rapid City.

The McNally family would like to thank Clarkson Health Care for their compassionate and loving care for the last 2 ½ years.

Joan is survived by her children; Patricia (Gary) Hamilton, Michele (Al) Johnson, Paulette (Jamie) McNally-McIlquham, Megan (Mat) Diedrich, Mollie (Paul) Waldum, Mark (Teri) McNally, numerous nieces and nephews, 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Phil "Buz" Schweitzer, her husband Ralph, and granddaughter Katie Ann McNally.

Cancer touched Joan and her loved ones many times in her life.  If you would like to provide a memorial, please consider a cancer charity or a charity of your choice.

Joan's life will be celebrated with a funeral mass on May 23, 2024, at 10:30 AM at Blessed Sacrament Church in Rapid City, SD.  A luncheon and opportunity to share memories will follow the service with Visitation one hour prior.