Pauline 'Pat' Ernesti Lambert - Sioux Falls: Feb. 1, 1925 - July 28, 2012

Pauline "Pat" Ernesti Lambert, 87, died Saturday, July 28, 2012, at her home in Sioux Falls.

Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Thursday at Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Flandreau. Burial is in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Skroch Funeral Chapel with a 7 p.m. prayer service followed by a Catholic Daughter Rosary.

She was born Feb. 1, 1925, at Harrisburg to Benhardt and Elvida (Boyson) Barnes. She went to grade school in Tea and high school in Lennox, Harrisburg and Yankton. She waitressed and also worked at John Morrell's during World War II. Pat married James F. Ernesti on Oct. 21, 1944, in New Orleans. She spent several years raising her 12 children and maintaining a busy household . She also assisted her husband with sewing for Ernesti Mattress Co.

When her children were older, she worked as a data processing assistant at McKennan Hospital and Ingalls Insurance Company until her retirement.

Jim died from cancer on March 18, 1981. During her retirement years, Pat enjoyed living at her Colman farm, her dog, Precious, gardening, cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, reading, dancing, writing her memoirs/family tree and communicating with her children and grandchildren on a computer. Pat married Bill Lambert on Feb. 8, 1985, in Sioux Falls and spent 15 loving, memorable years with him until his death on Nov. 14, 2001. She will be remembered as a loving, devoted and concerned parent, grandparent and greatgrandparent . Pat thoroughly enjoyed visits, phone calls, cards and gifts from them over the years, as well as from her many other family members and friends. They were always on display.

Pat was a member of Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America, American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary.

She is survived by 11 children, Donna (Dennis) Rolfson, Dennis Ernesti, James V. Ernesti, Joan (Jeff) Dow, Deborah (Jon) Heisel, Thomas Ernesti, all of Sioux Falls, Pamela (Daniel) Rustvang of Grand Forks, N.D., Mary (Michael) Schave of Gillette, Wyo., Theresa (Kent) Headrick of Flandreau, Daniel (Teresa) Ernesti of Dell Rapids and Lauri (Thomas) Starr of George, Iowa; 31 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren ; a brother Carroll (Corinne) Barnes of Sioux Falls and a sister Myrtle (Dale) Olson of Flandreau.

She was preceded in death by her two husbands; a daughter, Kathryn Becker; two granddaughters, Michelle Schave and Angela Rustvang; a grandson, David Ernestiand four siblings, Duane, Betty, Leona and Roger.

For online condolences, visit www.skrochfc.com.