Anna Pontius, 95, formerly of Avon Her funeral service will be 1:30 pm Friday, November 12, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Avon, with burial in the church cemetery, rural Avon. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements. 

Anna Rachel Pontius, daughter of Fred and Adelaide (Beavers) Bangert, was born February 12, 1915 near Avon, SD. She passed away Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at Denver, CO. Anna attained the age of 95 years, eight months and 21 days. She was lovingly referred to as “AnnaBanana”. 

Anna was the youngest of six children born to her family, of which all of them have preceded her in death. She was raised and attended school in the Avon area, graduating from Avon High School. Anna went on to Freeman Junior College and received her teaching degree. She taught around Mitchell in a one room school house. 

Anna was baptized and became a member at the Baptist Church. She sang in the choir and taught Sunday school. 

Anna married Garold Pontius on April 23, 1938 at the home of Walter and Ina Voigt, who raised Garold after his mother’s death. After the marriage, Garold took a job in Iowa as a farm hand and later they moved to Illinois. In 1947, they returned to South Dakota and lived south of Avon. The couple was blessed with seven children, of which six survive their mother today. Her son Robert passed away in 1960 at Avon. 

After Garold’s death in 1966, she went back to college full time and finished her studies to renew her teaching certificate. Anna took a job for four years in Guam and was able to go around the world and see the Holy Land, which was one of her childhood dreams. She and her daughter Susan returned to the United States and Anna taught in Florida until her retirement to Missouri. The past few years, she has lived in Denver, CO. 

Anna enjoyed her life in Missouri because of her love of traveling and being involved with missions and the church. She was able to teach at the Baptist Bible Hill Camp and serve as president of W.M.U. Anna also served three years on the county mission board and as a missionary to Jamaica in 1985 and Onawa, IA in 1986. It was always a joy for her to serve the Lord and do His work. The church and mission work were a very big part of Anna’s life. 

Thankful for having shared her life are her children: Eugene and wife Hao of Denver; Donald and wife Marg of Miles City, MT; Norville and wife Alta of Magnolia, DE; Mary Ohmit and husband Ricardo of Urbana, IL; Patricia Sharp and husband William of Nelson, MO; and Susan Tusa of Houston, TX; eight grandchildren: Kim and Paul (Kara) Pontius, Rob (Amy) Pontius, Melissa and Tina Pontius, Loren (Annalite) Ohmit, and Ann Marie and Brian (Jodi) Sharp; and eight great grandchildren. 

Anna will be welcomed in heaven by her Lord and Savior and her loved ones who have preceded her in death: her husband Garold; son Robert; three grandchildren: Priscilla Pontius, Troy Pontius and Andy Sharp; her parents and parents-in-laws; and three sisters: Ella Fullington, Ruth Walker and Mildred Angelo; and two brothers: Norville and Charles Bangert. 

The family wishes to thank all of you for being a part of their Mother’s life.