DIMOCK, S.D. — Mary Jo Zwinger, 80, Dimock, S.D., died Nov. 25, 2023, at Avera St. Benedict Hospital, Parkston. Funeral Mass will be 10: 30 a.m., Dec. 6, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Dimock. Burial will be at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery. Visitation and a prayer service were Dec. 5 at the Church. Arrangements were under the direction of Bittner Funeral Chapel, Mitchell, S.D. Mary Jo Zwinger was born Aug. 9, 1943, to Hubert and Josephine (Promes) Reifenrath in Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, S.D. She grew up on a farm near Brookie Bottom, about 17 miles from the South Dakota border. She became a big sister to her brother, Daniel. Mary Jo attended St. James Catholic School until eighth grade, then graduated from Wynot High School in 1961. After graduation, she worked as a nurse’ s aide at Sacred Heart Hospital for the next seven years.

Mary Jo married Wilfred Zwinger June 11, 1966. They had two children, Janet and James. In 1976, the family relocated to the Dimock area. After her children were grown, she was employed by Northwest Vet Clinic in Parkston, and worked there for 17 years.

Mary Jo and Wilfred enjoyed traveling to Minnesota, Iowa (especially the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa), Nebraska, North Dakota, and took several trips to the Black Hills. Mary Jo also enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, baking (including bread), sewing, collecting church cookbooks, and embroidering dishtowels.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Wilfred; daughter, Janet (Tom) Dureske; and son, James.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Daniel; and sister-in-law, Mary Kerker.