Carole Ann Auer, 63, Centennial Valley, died Saturday, September 2, 2006 at the Sturgis Regional Health Care Center.

Carole was born June 10, 1943 at Mitchell, SD, to Samuel and Thelma (Matthews) Johnson. The family lived in Artesian, SD, and Carole attended 1st grade in Storla, SD, until the family moved to Mitchell.

In 1959 the family moved from Mitchell to Whitewood. Carole married Leslie Auer on February 14, 1960 in St. Onge, SD. As a newly married couple they lived in Sturgis and Whitewood until movimg to the family farm in Centennial Valley.

Carole was the loving mother of Patrick, Mike, Mark and Sandy; Grandmother to Kim, Brandon, Dustin, Allen, T.C., Becky and Hanna and Great Grandmother to Bethany and Steven.

Carole's main focus in life was her role as a homemaker. In the 1980's Carole was an Emergency Medical Technician and worked several years on the Deadwood Ambulance Service.

Her life enjoyments included sewing coats and blankets for her grandkids. She also enjoyed gardening, cross stitching, reading, genealogy, feeding the birds and enjoying the country life.

In 1998 Carole developed serious lung problems which ultimately lead to her decision to have a lung transplant. He wish was granted on January 2, 2002, which provided her a much more enjoyable life these last four years.

On Saturday, September 2, 2006, Carole lost her courageous battle. The medicines and surgeries just became too much for her to deal with any longer.

Carole is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Leslie Auer and their children Patrick and Robin Auer, Mike and Donna Auer, Mark and Patricia Auer, all residing in Centennial Valley, Sandy and Gary Browner, Sterling, CO as well as her grandchildren; Kim, Brandon, Dustin, Allen, T.C., Becky, and Hanna; great grandchildren, Bethany and Steven; numerous family members and life long friends.

She is also survived by her loving mother, Thelma Johnson, Whitewood; sisters, Sonja and Eugene Nonnast, Roxie and Bill Cooper, all of Whitewood, Pam and Kenneth Harman, Newell, Ione and Floyd Ferguson, and Nadine Myers, all of Huron, SD.

Carole was preceded in death by her father, Samuel Johnson; niece Cody Cooper and nephew Tige Cooper.

Carole was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She was also a member of the University of Minnesota Medical Center Transplant Support Group. Carole never hesitated to share her knowledge and experience with local transplant patients or potential transplant candidates.

Funeral services at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Fr. Arnold Kari officiating. Burial follows at the Whitewood Cemetery.