Mother of God Monastery
110  28th Ave. SE ~  Watertown,  SD  57201
Phone: 605-882-6600  Fax: 605-882-6658
monastery@dailypost.com

OBITUARY

Sister Consolata Bichler

Sister Consolata Bichler age 97, died Saturday, January 8, 2000, at Prairie Lakes Care Center, in Watertown, South Dakota. Sister Consolata was born May 12, 1902, the third child born to Benedict and Johanna Reinbold Bichler. She and her five brothers and five sisters grew up on a farm 14 miles from Strasburg, North Dakota.  Sister Consolata had three aunts at Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton, and on one of their visits, she made the decision to join them. She entered the convent in 1922. In 1961, Sister Consolata transferred to the newly-founded Mother of God Monastery in Pierre. She came to Watertown when the monastery moved here in 1967.  During the years of her active ministry, Sister Consolata served as prefect to students in boarding schools at St. Mary's in Richardton, North Dakota, at Zell, South Dakota, and at Immaculate Conception School in Stephan, South Dakota. She also assisted with the laundry, sewing and other domestic duties at Hales Corner, Wisconsin, Yankton, Ft. Yates, North Dakota, St. Joseph Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota and St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre. When Maryhouse Nursing Home in Pierre was completed, S. Consolata spent two years on night duty, taking care of the residents. She was the sacristan and seamstress for the Monastery for many years. Sister Consolata is survived by her brothers, Ignatius of Pinole, California, and Ben Jr. of El Sobrante, California; her sister, Mary Zacher of Alexandria, Minnesota; and the Sisters of Mother of God Monastery.