The Benedictine Sisters

Sister Jeremy Sitter of Mother of God Monastery, Watertown, SD, died on March 27, 2024, at the Village of Harmony Hill in Watertown, at the age of 87.

S. Jeremy, was born on March 18, 1937, in Buxton, North Dakota to John Peter Sitter and Mary Clara (Scholand) and given the name Angela Marie. S. Jeremy was the second of six children. In 1940, the Sitter family moved a few miles from Ipswich, SD to a farm. Two sisters and two brothers joined the family over the next several years. She attended the parish school at Holy Cross and Ipswich High School. S. Jeremy was proud to have grown up on a farm with lots of siblings and spoke often of her love for horses, rural life, and all kinds of living creatures.

After one year of study at Mount Marty College, she received a teaching certificate in 1956 and taught at St. Joseph’s Indian Mission in Chamberlain, SD for three years. This was the beginning of her 53 year teaching career.

In the fall of 1959, S. Jeremy entered Sacred Heart Convent. As a novice, she became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery on June 15, 1961. A few weeks later she made her first profession of vows on June 25. Jeremy would go on to earn a Bachelors of Education from Mount Marty College and continue her teaching career in Fort Yates, ND, Glen Ullin, ND, spending 40 years at Pierre, SD at St. Joseph elementary.

S. Jeremy brought her love of nature and wildlife into the classroom, “anything to make learning fun!” Each year she hatched eggs of some kind - ducks, chicks, and even emus. She regularly had butterflies in cocoons and plants of all types in her classroom. S. Jeremy was more than a classroom teacher; she was involved in the parish as communion minister and the larger Pierre community. She was active in prison ministry, serving at the Womens Penitentiary in Pierre for the “residents encounter Christ” retreat. She became a member of the Civil Air Patrol in Pierre in 1998, serving as a chaplain and counselor. Her love of the sacraments brought her much joy and fueled her resolve to teach kids to prepare for reconciliation and communion. Thus, she not only taught at St. Joseph school, but also in the CCD program.

S. Jeremy is preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary, and brother James. She is survived by her brothers George and John, and sisters Mary Jean and Frances, many nieces, nephews, and friends. S. Jeremy was astute, always waiting for an opening to insert her comment with great dry wit. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her and especially, by the Sisters of Mother of God Monastery.

Sister Emily Meisel of Mother of God Monastery, Watertown, SD, died on March 11, 2024, at the Village of Harmony Hill in Watertown, at the age of 91. S. Emily was born on Sept. 14, 1932, in Flasher, North Dakota, to Lewis Meisel and Pauline (Dolderer) and was given the name Clara Virginia. She was the sixth of eight children. Pauline traveled back to her birthplace in Buchau, Germany, to rescue her niece Erika, who was orphaned after her father was killed during World War II.

Emily said, “Erika became one of our family, like a sister.” S. Emily grew up on a ranch near Selfridge, ND, which nurtured her love of nature and the presence of God in all things. She and her younger brother Jim spent time doing chores together, and riding horseback was a special treat for them. As a small girl, Emily heard a call to become a sister. At 15, her parents made it possible for her to go to high school at Mount Marty in Yankton, SD. In June of 1946, just 16 years old, Emily entered Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton.

After high school and one year of college, S. Emily began teaching elementary school, a mission that would last for 23 years. These assignments took her to the South Dakota towns of Dimock, Zell, Polo, Aberdeen, and Richardton, ND. S. Emily loved learning, earning degrees: a BA from Mount Marty College, an M.Ed. from the University of North Dakota, a certificate in Spirituality from St. Louis University, MO, and an MA in Spirituality from Holy Names College in Oakland, CA.

She became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery on June 15, 1961. In 1979, she began new ministries in spiritual direction and retreat work and served as the formation director for the monastery until 1987. After a sabbatical, Emily served as retreat director at monasteries in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Richardton, ND. S. Emily returned to the monastery in 1999, serving as the director of the spirituality center, spiritual director, and a member of the monastery vocation and formation teams. She was the Assistant Prioress from 2000 to 2005.

During her years as retreat director, S. Emily created an eight-month “Journey Program” based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. She masterfully designed a series of workshops that blended beautifully into the powerful experience of the spiritual exercises. S. Emily touched, moved, and led countless others to a deeper reality of the love of God. She said, “Of all the programs that have given me the most joy in helping others, the Journey and the Inner Child have been very special.”

S. Emily is preceded in death by her parents and siblings Carl, Robert, George, Martin, Mary, and Erika. She is survived by her brother Jim and his wife Carolyn, her sister Pauline, many nieces, nephews, friends, and the Sisters of Mother of God Monastery.

Sister Diane Miller, age 76, of Mother of God Monastery, Watertown, SD, died on June 25, 2023, at the Village at Harmony Hill in Watertown.

Diane Louise Miller was born on July 9, 1946, the oldest child of Lyle Glenn and Marian (Wilde) Miller in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her parents were attending school and working. Her brother Larry was born four years later. Diane once remarked, “At the age of two, we began what became a lifetime habit — we moved.” Though frequent moves were challenging, they gave her a deep appreciation for cultural and ethnic diversity in the people she encountered.

The family moved to California, returned to Illinois, and by age eight, settled in Houston, Texas, where she lived in multiple locations over the next 33 years. While attending Jesse Jones High School in Houston, Diane decided she wanted to become Catholic but had to wait until 1964 for her father’s consent. It was during this time that she first felt a call to religious life.

After high school, Diane attended the University of Houston, earning a BA in 1969. Over the next 17 years, she worked at the Houston Post, volunteered at the zoo, married, divorced, and became deeply involved in parish life. As her faith deepened, the idea of religious life re-emerged. After four years of discernment and visiting various religious communities, she found clarity. Diane shared, “I visited Queen of Peace Monastery in Belcourt, ND, and everything just fell into place.”

S. Diane entered Queen of Peace in 1987 and professed her final vows on July 11, 1992. In 2002, when the six remaining sisters of Queen of Peace discerned it was time to close their monastery, Diane and another sister, Judith Emge, decided they wanted to remain in the Dakotas and continue living in a small Benedictine community. After much reflection and mutual discernment with the sisters of Mother of God Monastery, Diane and Judith transferred their vows of stability to the Watertown Benedictines in 2006.

S. Diane was an active member of Mother of God Monastery for 17 years, serving as the community archivist for most of that time. She had a profound love for all creatures, great and small — from cats and dogs to turtles and alpacas. Known for her dry wit and compassionate heart, S. Diane will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her brother, Larry Miller, of Pasadena, Texas.

Sister Jeanne Giese of Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, SD, died on Monday, November 28, 2022, at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown.

Given the name Mary Joan at birth, Jeanne was born on December 26, 1930, in Hoven, SD. She was the older of two children born to Rudolf and Marion (Gross) Giese. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Dean.

S. Jeanne grew up on a farm near Hoven during the challenging years of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. She attended grade school at St. Anthony School in Hoven before continuing her education at Mount Marty High School and College in Yankton, SD. In the fall of 1948, she entered Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton.

S. Jeanne professed perpetual vows to Benedictine life on June 29, 1954. On June 15, 1961, she became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery. During her years of service, she held several leadership roles, including Vocation and Formation Director, Oblate and Liturgy Director, and organist. She also served twice as assistant prioress and was prioress from 1985 to 1993.

After graduating from college, S. Jeanne joined the faculty at Mount Marty High School, where she taught Latin, English, Religion, Dramatic Arts, and Music. She also taught at schools in Richardton, ND; Stephan High School; Harmony Hill High School; and Mount Marty College. Known as a creative and popular teacher, she was deeply loved by her students.

In addition to her work in education, S. Jeanne’s ministry extended to the Institute for Christian Brotherhood and the American Indian Cultural Research Center at Blue Cloud Abbey. She helped computerize the Abbey’s library and compiled a revised edition of their Divine Office. She also undertook the significant task of revising the Divine Office for Mother of God Monastery, which included Lauds, Day Prayer, Vespers, and 47 specialized booklets for solemnities, feasts, and liturgical seasons.

S. Jeanne was an avid traveler, seizing every opportunity to explore new places, including trips to Germany, Rome, and England.

In her final years, S. Jeanne endured significant pain, which she bore with grace and cheerfulness. She always showed interest in the life of the Monastery, eagerly asking for updates during visits. She welcomed prayer intentions, often saying, “I pray better when I know whom to pray for.”

The Sisters of Mother of God Monastery give thanks to God for the life of Sister Jeanne. We will miss the twinkle in her eye and her cheery presence. S. Jeanne was truly a gift to all who knew her.

Sister Muriel Spartz, OSB, 90, died peacefully on January 26, 2019. She was a resident of Estelline Nursing Care Center in Estelline South Dakota at the time of her death.

Born Rita Mae Spartz, on January 26, 1929, in Kranzburg, Sister Muriel was one of six children born to Nick and Agnes (Staudacher). She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings.

Sister Muriel graduated from Mount Marty High School in Yankton and then entered Sacred Heart Convent, Yankton, South Dakota in 1946. She made her first monastic profession in June 1948.

She began her elementary teaching career in the fall of 1948. In 1961, she joined 132 other women from the Sacred Heart Community to become a founding member of Mother of God Monastery in Pierre, South Dakota.

Sister Muriel attended Mount Marty College obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education in 1964. She earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Administration 1971 from Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

From 1952-1982 she served as principal and teacher at schools in Richardton, Selfridge, Glen Ullin, Hoven and Pierre. She was a member of the South Dakota Catholic Principals Association for many years.

She attended a Corporate Ministry Program at St. Louis University, MO from 1982 to 1983 which prepared her to serve as a Director of Religious Education at St. George Parish in Hartford, SD for approximately 30 years before retiring to the Monastery in Watertown.

Sister Muriel was blessed to be part of a large extended family, who loved and cherished the beautiful, witty, caring soul she was.

Sister Mary Amanda Wolf, 81, died peacefully on June 29th, 2018, of complications from a stroke. She was a resident at Estelline Nursing Care Center in Estelline, SD at the time of her death.

Born Clara Wolf, S. Amanda was the eighth of thirteen children born to Mathias and Theresia Wolf of Zeeland, ND.

Upon completing her primary education at Logan Consolidated School near her family’s farm by Raymond, SD, S. Amanda left home to attend Mount Marty High School in Yankton, SD. Inspired by the “spirit of the Sisters” who taught her, she entered the community as a postulant in 1954 and made vows June 29, 1956.

After graduating from Mount Marty College S. Amanda began teaching at Polo, and later at Zell, SD. In 1961, S. Amanda became a founding member of Mother of God Priory (Monastery) and moved to Pierre, SD with one hundred thirty-six other Sisters.

Shortly after, she returned to school and obtained a degree in Business Administration from Northern College, Aberdeen, SD., and worked as Hospital Controller and later as the Community Treasurer.

In 1967, S. Amanda moved with the community to Watertown where they began building Mother of God Monastery.

S. Amanda always felt a special love for the poor; she was happiest when she lived and worked with the marginalized, including; the Watertown Women’s Shelter, the Monastery’s mission in Guatemala, Care and Share in Crookston, Minnesota, and the Benedictine Multicultural Center. Her unfailing kindness and unique gentle sense of humor endeared her to all whom she touched. 

Sister Leona (Bernice) Gauer, 80, of Mother of God Monastery, SD died Friday, July 11, 2014 (Feast Day of St. Benedict) in Sioux Falls.

Bernice Gauer was born to the late Michael and Frances (Ertz) Gauer on the family farm near Ipswich, SD. Her desire to become a sister deepened over the years, influenced by her mother’s strong faith. In June 1950, at the age of 16, she entered Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton, SD, where she was given the name Leona. She attended Mount Marty High School and made her monastic profession in 1952.

S. Leona’s first ministry began in 1953 in Epiphany, SD, where she served as a cook and prefect for the boarding school. She continued working as a cook and dietician for the next fifteen years, serving hospitals in Yankton, Tyndall, and Pierre, and schools in Stephan, SD, Richardton, ND, and Harmony Hill in Watertown. She earned a certificate in Food Service Supervision from Fontbonne College in St. Louis.

In 1974, S. Leona embarked on a new chapter in her life, joining a team that led retreats, workshops, and parish missions. This experience boosted her confidence and guided her to a ministry working with the divorced and widowed—people who were truly hurting. She had a special gift for helping others work through their pain. In 1978, she began working for the Office of Marriage and Family for the Sioux Falls Diocese and, in 1981, was asked to become the Director of Divorced Ministry. She established an office in Watertown, where she trained leaders, gave presentations, and provided counseling as needed.

In 1984, S. Leona attended a one-year program in Pastoral Ministry at St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul, MN. She then spent two years working in the Pastoral Care Department at St. Ann’s Hospital in Watertown before returning to the monastery to help with retreats and offer spiritual counseling to divorced individuals.

In 1992, she moved to Sioux Falls, where she served as Co-director for a homeless shelter for two and a half years. In 2002, S. Leona became the director of the Benedictine Sisters Foundation while also assisting Fr. Gary Ternes with prison ministry in Sioux Falls. After seven years, she felt called to dedicate herself fully to prison ministry. She resigned from the Foundation and moved to Sioux Falls, where she spent endless hours walking the tiers of the South Dakota State Penitentiary, ministering as a chaplain to inmates. She also helped organize REC (Residents Encounter Christ) weekends, held three times a year in Sioux Falls, Springfield, and Pierre.

S. Leona tirelessly served in her prison ministry until the day God called her home.

Sister Del Rey (Viola) Kuhn, 89, of Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, SD died Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at the monastery.

Viola Kuhn was born on a farm in Glen Ullin, ND on March 10, 1925 to Peter and Celestine (Emineth) Kuhn. She was the oldest of nine children. She loved nature, the flowers and trees, the animals on the farm, and watching the stars and the northern lights.

She attended a country school until the eighth grade when she transferred to Sacred Heart School in Glen Ullin. Following high school, Viola attended Mount Marty College in Yankton and graduated with a major in history and a minor in education. In 1966 she obtained an MBA at the University of Notre Dame.

Viola entered Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton in 1944. She was given the name Del Rey. Following her profession of Monastic Promises, she was sent to Selfridge, ND where she began her teaching career.

In 1949 she spent the summer teaching at Stephan Indian Mission in SD. That same year, during her first home visit, she was asked to teach in Glen Ullin for one year. To Sister Del Rey's delight, her sister, Kathleen, was one of her students! She also taught in Aberdeen, Kranzburg and Pierre, SD and in Richardton, ND and York, NE.

In 1965, S. Del Rey was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In spite of the daily challenges she faced, she continued her ministry in the classroom. In 1974 teaching became too stressful for her, and Del Rey returned to the monastery. She was determined to remain active and involved. She completed Clinical and Pastoral Education and ministered in pastoral care at St. Ann's Hospital, Watertown. She also became a hospice volunteer.

Later, S. Del Rey lived and served at the Women's Resource Center. She wanted to prove she could care for herself and live a meaningful life despite her health challenges. She desired to work directly with the poor, those financially and spiritually poor. She unselfishly cared for them and gave them hope.

In 1997, S. Del Rey returned to the monastery where she continued to inspire everyone with her courage and patience. Though handicapped, she saw her illness as a blessing. She loved being with people. Sister Del Rey was very creative, as demonstrated by her poetry, her artistic creations and her spiritual reflections.

Sister Esther Schwehr, of Mother of God Monastery, died Friday, September 26, 2014, at the Estelline Nursing and Care Center.  She was 98 years old and a professed member of the Monastery for 75 years.

Marcella Mary Schwehr was born October 6, 1915, on a farm 7 ½ miles southeast of Belfield, ND.  She was the third of sixteen children born to Edward Pius and Elizabeth Loretta (Winkels) Schwehr. 

Marcella’s father promised his children that he would send them to a Catholic high school, if they desired, even if he had to mortgage the farm.  He mortgaged the farm and when the hard years of dust storms, drought, grasshoppers, and army worms came, he lost the farm.  Marcella had entered the convent by that time.  After losing the farm, her family moved to Billings, MT.

She graduated from high school and had one year of college at Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, MN.  She taught school for two years and returned home for one year before entering Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton in August, 1937.  In 1942, Sister Esther made perpetual vows.

She had earned a B.A. degree in Education from Northern State in Aberdeen, SD, and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of South Dakota, in Vermillion, SD.  Throughout her teaching career, she ministered in various schools and parishes in North and South Dakota and in York, NE.  Gradually music was included in her teaching, both giving private lessons and playing the organ.

Sister Esther was a founding member of Mother of God Monastery.  In 1995, when the new monastery was being constructed, she and a group of Sisters were missioned in Gettysburg, SD.  She returned to the monastery in the year 2000.  She was a resident in the Estelline Nursing and Care facility for the past three years, where she was dearly loved by the staff and residents.

Sister Esther loved drama, poetry, and short stories, and often delighted the Sisters with scenes from Shakespeare or other poetic stories.

Sister Mildred (Alice) Nikolas, 83, of Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, died Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Alice Nikolas was born in Aberdeen on Feb. 5, 1929, to Cecilia (Sahli) and Leo Nikolas. Being the second oldest in a family of 13 (nine boys and four girls) she had many responsibilities.

Alice attended St. Mary’s School in Aberdeen, which was staffed by the Benedictines. As a sixth grader, she felt attracted to religious life and searched out different orders, feeling drawn to the Benedictines and Maryknoll. Trying to "whittle herself out of the fact that religious life was for her" she began making novenas to the Sorrowful Mother. Still convinced that she had a vocation, she entered Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton at the age of 14 on Aug. 20, 1943. In 1946, Alice entered the novitiate and received the name Sister Mildred.

After her monastic profession in 1947, Sister Mildred began a 25-year teaching ministry throughout the diocese of Sioux Falls. In 1961, she became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery, established in Pierre. Her teaching career ended abruptly when she was elected third prioress of the new community. During her term of office, the monastery relocated to Watertown.

Sister Mildred enjoyed all the ministries to which she was assigned during her active life. She especially loved working with adults and families in the parish setting. Her last ministry spanned a period of 18 years in the parishes of Montrose and Humboldt.

Sister Mildred loved the liturgy and the praying of the Divine Office. To her, these were very important facets in living the Rule of St. Benedict. The Holy Rule, for her was a guide for Christian living, but also a challenge at times. Sister Mildred was known and loved for her compassion and her love for everyone.

Sister Antoinette (Verona) Tramp, OSB, 91, of Mother of God Monastery, died on Thursday, June 2, 2011 in Jenkins Living Center, Watertown, South Dakota.

Verona was born on May 23, 1920, a twin sister to Vernon, at the home of their parents, Albert and Elizabeth (Goeden) Tramp, near Menominee, Nebraska. Sister Antoinette and Vernon were the last members of a family of eleven children. All family members participated in running the family farm.

Sister began her education at the age of six in St. Boniface School taught by the Benedictine Sisters of Yankton. She attended Mount Marty College her freshman year. Due to lack of funding, in tenth grade she attended the public high school in Yankton and worked for her room and board. The next year she came home and it was at that time, through the thoughtfulness of one of the Sisters, she was inspired to enter the convent.

Sister Antoinette entered Sacred Heart Convent at Yankton, June 7, 1937. She finished high school while in the convent. She made her final vows on June 24, 1941. Her first ministry upon making final vows was teaching at Stephan. The following year she attended college at Mount Marty. The next two years, she went to school with the Benedictines in Duluth, MN and received a Bachelor Degree in dietetics. After a year internship in St. Louis, she became a registered dietitian. She was then assigned to work in St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, South Dakota through the mid-sixties. In 1967, when the Mother of God Priory moved to Watertown and built Harmony Hill High School, Sister worked as the school librarian. In addition to this ministry, she became a consultant dietician for many small hospitals and nursing homes in Codington County and surrounding communities. Later, Sister became the community archivist.

In 2003, Sister moved to Jenkins Living Center in Watertown, SD until she was called to Eternal Rest.

Sister Cherylyn Dinsmore, OSB, age 72, of Mother of God Monastery, Watertown, SD died unexpectedly at 3:30 PM on Sunday, September 5, 2010 at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, SD.

Cherylyn M. Dinsmore was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, SD on August 20, 1938, the first of four children born to Frank and Matilda (Owens) Dinsmore of Midland, SD. Sister Cherylyn graduated from Midland High School in 1956 as valedictorian. She earned a B.A. degree in education from Mount Marty College, Yankton and became a certified teacher-librarian through Northern State College. Sister Cherylyn entered Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton, SD , where she made her first vows in 1960. She became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery in 1961 and made final vows on June 25, 1965.

Sister's teaching ministry over the years included: Stephan Indian Mission, Sacred Heart School in Glen Ullin, ND, Christ the King School, Webster SD, and St. Mary's, Aberdeen, SD. She served two years as High School Librarian at Stephan Indian Mission and nine years at Roncalli High School in Aberdeen, SD.

Sister Cherylyn's ministries in Pierre started in 1980, beginning as a part time library helper at St. Joseph School and office worker at River Park for a few years. She was then appointed school librarian, computer lab coordinator and music coordinator for Ss Peter and Paul Church. She played the organ for the Saturday night Mass on the eve before going Home to God. Her motto in life was a quote given by her dad, "Pray as if everything depends on God; work as if everything depends on you."

Sister Anita Splonskowski, 89, of Mother of God Monastery, died Friday, February 29, 2008, Maryhouse Nursing Home, Pierre.

Sister Judith Emge, age 70, of Mother of God Monastery, Watertown, SD died unexpectedly at 11:30 p.m., Saturday, July 12, 2008, at the Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Judith Emge was the fifth of eleven children, born on August 2, 1937, to Richard and Gertrude (Wipf) Emge in Evansville, IN. She attended eleven years of Catholic education and graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1955. In September of that year, she entered Immaculate Conception Convent in Ferdinand, Indiana.

In 1956, Judith, then known as Sister Mary Andrew, was sent to the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota, as a founding member of Queen of Peace Monastery. She made her monastic profession in 1957 and spent 47 years as a member of the small Benedictine community. By 2001, the community had dwindled to six members, and with no new vocations in many years, the sisters discerned that they could no longer continue as an independent monastery. As part of the Federation of St. Gertrude, they requested to be dissolved and sought new monastic homes.

On December 8, 2003, Sisters Judith and Diane Miller arrived at Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, SD, to begin a probationary period and discern if it would become their new monastic home. On March 18, 2007, they officially transferred their vow of stability from Queen of Peace Monastery to Mother of God Monastery.

Sister Judith attended Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD, where she earned a B.A. in Elementary Education. Her ministry was primarily in education, first in Indiana and then at St. Ann’s Indian Mission in Belcourt, ND. From 1968 to 1992, she served as Principal and later as Executive Director of St. Ann’s, which was later renamed the Ojibwa Indian School. In 1975, she earned an M.A. in Elementary Education.

In 1992, Sister Judith became the Development Director and Registrar at Queen of Peace Center, where she served until 1997, when she was elected Prioress of Queen of Peace Monastery. She held this role until the monastery closed in 2003.

After joining Mother of God Monastery, Sister Judith served as Administrative Assistant in the Benedictine Sisters Foundation Office. In 2007, she was elected to serve on the Monastery Council and Board of Directors, continuing her lifelong commitment to community and service.

Sister Judith’s life was marked by her dedication to education, leadership, and her deep commitment to the Benedictine monastic way of life.

Sister Colette Van Heek, 83, of Mother of God Monastery died Sunday, January 27, 2008 in St. Joseph Care Center in Yankton, South Dakota.

Sister Colette (Sylvia) Van Heek was born on a small farm near Crofton, Nebraska on June 17, 1924. She was the second of four children of John Van Heek and Mary Arens. She spent the first two years of school at a rural school and later entered St. Rose parochial school in Crofton. She loved the Sisters and at the end of the first day of school she announced that she wanted to be a Sister. Her family's first experience with serious illness came when Sister's younger sister, Mary Ann, was rushed to Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton with a ruptured appendix. It was at that time that Sister Colette began thinking about becoming a nursing Sister. She studied at Crofton Public High School for one year and entered Mt. Marty her sophomore year. She began seriously thinking about a religious vocation during her senior year.

Sister entered the Benedictine order at Yankton in August 1941. She made her monastic profession on June 24, 1943. She completed a three year course in nurses training at Sacred Heart Hospital and later she attended the College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN. Following this education, Sr. Colette began her teaching profession. In 1950, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education and began teaching in the School of Practical Nursing at Pierre, South Dakota. She became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery in 1961.

Sister Colette's entire professional career was in the health field. Although she enjoyed teaching in the clinical area, Sister longed to return to the bedside nursing she loved. Following twenty years of teaching nursing, she returned to nursing service at St. Mary's Hospital and Maryhouse for an additional ten years as Director of Nursing and Nursing Supervisor. Later, she spent a year as a school nurse at the Indian mission at Stephan, SD. Next, Sister Colette was asked to take a semester course at St. Mary of the Woods in Terri Haute, Indiana to prepare for working with her elderly Sisters. She spent six years caring for her Sisters at the monastery infirmary in Watertown, and later, changed her place of ministry to Tekakwitha Nursing Center in Sisseton, SD. She loved nursing for the elderly there for seven years, but eye sight problems made nursing hazardous for her. She then entered pastoral care ministry at the nursing home in Sisseton.

After breaking her hip, Sister Colette entered Jenkins Living Center. Later she transferred to St. Joseph Care Center at Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton where she died.