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

OBITUARY

Sister Mark Rohner

Sister Mark Rohner, 98, died on January 1, 2000, in Maryhouse Nursing Home in Pierre, South Dakota.  Ida Ann was born in Oberegg, Canton Appenzell, Switzerland, the fifth of 15 children of Jakob and Mathilda Frehner Rohner. She attended school at St. Anton, taught by the Franciscan Sisters. Besides their school work, the children worked in a factory, cutting out lace-like curtains.  After completing school, Ida was asked to help the cook in the rectory where her uncle was pastor. She remained there for three years. A short time later she was called back to the same parish where she was asked to help a farm family with eight children. S. Mark had a strong desire to go to Africa as a missionary; however, her priest-uncle wanted her to enter Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton, where his sister, Sister Mechtilde, was professed.  S. Mark entered Marienheim in Einsedeln, Switzerland, in 1924. On May 6, 1926, she sailed to America and arrived at Yankton on May 20, where she was received as a candidate. She made her monastic profession on August 27,1927, and left the next day for Epiphany, SD, where she began her life-long ministry as cook and housekeeper.  In 1961, Sister Mark became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery. She served in Stephan, Chamberlain, Pierre, Sisseton, and Aberdeen, South Dakota, in Richardton and Glen Ullin, North Dakota, and in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.  During her later years, S. Mark's mission work eased up, so she began visiting shut-ins, praying with them and playing cards with them. Sister Mark has lived in Pierre since 1985. She had a great love for people and visited the residents of Maryhouse until her own health began to fail.  Sister Mark is survived by her Sisters of Mother of God Monastery, one brother, three sisters and many nieces and nephews.