Anna Marie Verhulst was born April 3, 1923, to Charley and Annette Verhulst at home at the ranch near Reva, SD. She attended a rural school for 8 years and graduated from high school at Thrall Academy in Sorum, SD, in 1941. She married Forrest Goddard on November 14, 1941, in Sturgis SD. They began their married life in a small 2 room house that Forrest's dad built for them at the Goddard ranch south of Prairie City, SD. They lived and worked side by side on the ranch. This was where they raised 4 children, Gerie, Marshall, Tom and Monte.
Anna was active in the Hand-E-Hands Extension Club in Perkins County for over 50 years. She and Forrest enjoyed bowling in Bison, SD Her love for cards was well known and she enjoyed and hosted many community card parties through the years. She and Forrest loved to dance and hardly ever missed a dance at the Moreau River Hall or the Sorum Hall.
They continued to ranch until 1989 when they moved to Sturgis, SD, due to Forrest's failing health. After moving to Sturgis, she and Forrest enjoyed playing cards at the Senior Center and helped serve Sturgis Rally breakfasts to the bikers. She was an enthusiastic bridge player and belonged to several card clubs.
Anna was an active member of the Sturgis Church of Christ. She had a quiet gentle spirit that captured the hearts of her family and friends.
Anna Marie Goddard passed away on March 14, 2021, at Monument Health Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis, SD at the age of 97.
She is survived by three children, Gerie Ericson, Tom (Betty) Goddard, and Monte Goddard, all of Sturgis, SD; grandchildren include: DeeAnna (Jon) Opstedahl, JayDee (Laura) Ericson, Todd (Janelle) Goddard, Tammy Derschan, Josh (Stephanie) Goddard, Jim (Robyn) Goddard, and Kelly (Chad) Bouma; step-grandchildren: Kristie Sierra and E.J. Snyder; great-grandchildren: Gabe Opstedahl, Greg Opstedahl, Ashleigh (Steven) Nash, Roy (Shannon) Goddard, Chandler (Joseph) Loux, Broox Derschan, Cody Goddard, Jaxon, Lainey and Sawyer Bouma; step-great-grandchildren, Ryan Kruger, Larissa Mayhew, Rylea Joyce, and TJ Snyder; great-great-grandchildren: Quinleigh and Lloyd Nash; and step-great-great- grandchild: Hazlea Reifschneider.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest Goddard; her son and daughter-in-law, Marshall and Lavina Goddard; her son-in-law, Don Ericson; daughter-in-law, Tarrie Goddard; and infant son, Milton Goddard.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD.
Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 19, 2021, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with a burial to follow at Bear Butte cemetery.
A memorial will be established for the Prairie City Fire Department in Prairie City, SD.