Services for Amy Marie Somers Flemmer, of Andover will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Andover with burial following in the Andover Cemetery. Visitation will take place Monday, May 25, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Paetznick-Garness Funeral Home in Groton, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Condolences may be left at www.paetznick-garness.com. 

Amy Marie Somers Flemmer died May 21, 2015, at Rosewood Court, Groton, SD, having lived one month longer than her mother who had also died at age 88. The fourth child of Harold A. (H.A.) and Amy (Amsden) Somers, she was born in her parents’ home in Verdon, S.D., on December 16, 1926. At age nine months she moved to Andover, riding in a horse-drawn wagon driven by her mother. Her mother, a former teacher, taught her to read before she began elementary school so in her first year she combined two grades, graduating from Andover High School in 1943. During her secondary years she served as a cheerleader, played basketball, excelled as a trumpet player in the band, and finished as the salutatorian of her class. She then entered Northern State in Aberdeen, graduating in 1945 as an elementary teacher. For the next two years she taught in Mobridge and while attending a dance there met Gordon Flemmer of Selby whom she married on July 6, 1947.

After the marriage she and Gordon settled in Andover where she taught at the school while Gordon farmed and worked with her father at the business which eventually became Somers and Flemmer Service. Amy and Gordon had three children during the early 1950’s – Candace, Kim, and Jon; then the day after turning 48 years old in 1974 she gave birth to their son Ross who she later taught as a fourth grade student.

Friends and social connections were vital to Amy’s happiness; many of her teaching colleagues became her lifelong friends. Earlier in her life she was a member of Eventide Study Club, Wednesday Club, a couples whist club, and a square-dancing group. Additionally she participated in bowling leagues and a golf league in Webster. She was an avid fan of both the Minnesota Twins and Vikings as well as her son’s Dell Rapids St. Mary’s football team. Before Gordon’s death in 1993, they served on the Andover All-School Reunion Committee and participated in couples bridge clubs and a dinner club.

Her faith centered her life. She was confirmed at the Andover Methodist Church where she was also married, but with Gordon she joined Zion Lutheran and remained a member there until her death. During that time she was an active member of the Zion Ladies Aid and related groups.

Amy is survived by her children: Candace (Daniel) Kauffman, Winona, MN; Judge Jon (Jill) Flemmer, Webster, SD; Ross (Cristy) Flemmer, Dell Rapids, SD; her grandchildren: Christopher Kauffman, Amy (Robert Kinyua) Kauffman, Beth (Kevin) DeRonne, Seth Flemmer, Lucas Flemmer, and Jacob Flemmer; her sister Lucille Pett, Whitewater, WI. She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon, her son Kim, her parents, and her brothers Eugene and Richard.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Storybook Land in Aberdeen, SD, Groton Transit in Groton, SD, or Zion Lutheran in Andover.