RAPID CITY--Loretta M. Ness, 94, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, passed away on Wednesday, September 19, 2012. she will be forever missed. Loretta Ness was born April 11,1918 in Hoven, SD. The oldest of nine children of Ben and Lorena (Duenwald) Kaiser, she spent her childhood on the family farm near Hoven. Loretta received her education from various rural schools and graduated from Mount Marty High School in Yankton. Loretta was united in marriage to Gene Ness in January 1945 and they made their home in Sioux Falls. She was a devoted wife and mother of seven, who dedicated her life to creating a happy and loving home for her family. Loretta was hard working and loved to listen to her music while doing housework and baking. An active lady, she routinely walked two to three miles a day. Loretta was an avid reader of books, magazines and the daily paper. A 50 year member of St. Joseph's Cathedral Altar Society in Sioux Falls, Loretta is remembered for her wonderful home baked breads, buns, caramel rolls, and cinnamon rolls donated for bake sales. She always had a pot of coffee and a plate of cookies, bars, cake or pie ready for frequent visits from neighbors, friends and family. Gene and Loretta moved to Rapid City, SD in 1996 to be closer to family. Loretta enjoyed the many drives with her husband, exploring the Black Hills. She was a great friend to many and continued to share her baked goods over coffee with friends in their new home in Rapid City. She is survived by her children, Jim (Mary) Ness, Sioux Falls, Mary Jean (Curt) Otterness, Elk River, MN, Patti (Bob) Rick, Carol (David) Christensen, Lori (Larry) Plank, Ron Ness and Roger (Peggy) Ness, all of Rapid City, 20 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; her brothers Otto (Mary Jo) Kaiser, Edina, MN, Dakota Kaiser, New York, NY; sisters-in-law, Joyce Bemis, Tempe, AZ, Pat (Frank) Lawrence, Redwood City, CA, Alice Kaiser and Harriet Thompson,as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Loretta was fortunate to have experienced quality as well as quantity of life. She was preceded by her husband of 57 years, Gene, in May 2002; by her parents, her beloved sister, Sr. Laurina Kaiser, OSB, brothers Ernie, Al, Joe and Gilbert, an infant sister and granddaughter Carmella Ness. Visitation will be on Sunday, Sept. 23, from 6 until 7 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. Christian wake service at Blessed Sacrament Church. A Christian Funeral Mass will be offered at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, at Blessed Sacrament Church with Rev. William Zandri presiding. Burial will follow in Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Memorial gifts may be directed to the Mount Marty College Kaiser Scholarship Fund.