Gwendolyn Lee Vogt was born on January 15, 1952, in Mobridge, SD, to Glen and Alvena Joens, the 7th of 10 children. Gwen lived on a farm/ranch north of Eagle Butte, SD, and attended school in Eagle Butte from 1st through 12th grade, riding the school bus every year. She was a member of the Kuntry Kusins 4H club. Gwen worked at Stabbe’s and Dwyers T-Bone Steak as a waitress, a gas station attendant at Little Dakota Truck Stop, and babysat for the neighborhood. Gwen went on to attend Black Hills State University after High School to study elementary education and graduated in 1974. Gwen taught 1st grade in Eagle Butte for 3 years after graduation.

On May 29th 1977, Gwen married Davis Vogt in Eagle Butte, SD, and the two moved to Black Hawk, SD, to start their life together. Gwen and Davis went on to have two sons together, Frank Vogt in 1979 and Loren Vogt in 1982.

The following years included Gwen working on a cleaning crew for Saint Martins High School and substituting for the Douglas School District and the Rapid City School District. Gwen was the den leader for her sons’ Cub Scout Pack 91, was a Black Hawk School PTA officer, and room mother for the teachers. Gwen enjoyed going to her two sons’ sports games, including football, soccer, basketball, and all school activities. She also enjoyed going to her granddaughter’s hockey games when she could. Gwen retired from the Rapid City School District in May 2015 after 22 years as a Special Education Instructional Assistant.

In her free time, she enjoyed fishing, hunting, and tent camping in the summers with her family, playing cards, going to bingo, gardening, going to household auction sales, gambling in Deadwood, her monthly Milestone lunches with her friends from the school district, brunches and breakfast with her lady neighbors, going to family potlucks, doing puzzles, and her morning card game with Davis. Gwen was a lifetime member of the Piedmont Legion Auxiliary Post 311 as well as the VFW of Rapid City Auxiliary.

Gwen did a lot of family traveling, including: a Canada fishing trip, going to Disney World and Disneyland, the Gulf of Mexico, driving to North Fork and Ft. Lee, Virginia, going to family reunions in Wisconsin, celebrating Christmas in Mexico with Golda and Gilbert, and her trip with her dad, sister Babe, and husband Dave to Nevada and Oregon.

Gwen is survived by her husband Davis Vogt of Black Hawk; her 2 Sons, Frank Vogt of St. Paul, MN, and Loren Vogt of Rapid City; her granddaughter, Mersadez (Seth) Asheim of Rapid City; sister Golda Galyen (Gilbert Diaz) of Rapid City; 3 brothers, Kenny (Deb) Joens of Eagle Butte, Larry (Rene Bourn) Joens of Eagle Butte, and Mick (Jenny) Joens of Eagle Butte; along with many extended family and friends.

Gwen is preceded in death by both her parents, Glenn and Alvena Joens; her 4 brothers: Boyd, Les, Ben, and Ronnie; her sister LaVernne Gage; and her in-laws.

Gwen’s graveside service is scheduled for Thursday, September 24th at 11:00 am at Black Hills National Cemetery. A Celebration of Gwen’s life will follow the burial at the American Legion In Piedmont, S.D.