Pat Koenig passed away at her home on Thursday, October 29, 2015, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Patricia (Humpal) Koenig was born on what was then known as the Wagner Ranch (her maternal grandparents' place) east of Fairfax to Charles and Sophia (Wagner) Humpal, on June 15, 1928. She attended all of her elementary and high school years in the Fairfax school system, graduating in 1946, and was a very proud and devoted member of their alumni association, being one who was instrumental in getting the yearly reunions started, as well as being one of the most active members of the association all of her adult life. Pat obtained her 2-year teaching degree at Southern State Teacher's College in Springfield, SD, attending at the same time her 2 brothers and their future wives were all going to school there, too; then she taught in Tyndall, SD for a year. She moved back home to teach in Fairfax, marrying the love of her life, Bill Koenig, on June 1, 1949 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. To this union, their five children were born. Pat and Bill also lost one child that was stillborn. Pat gave up teaching to raise the family and help Bill with his Home Lumber business. She also became school secretary half days. Pat and Bill drove a shorter school bus route for a number of years as well. Later, she became postmaster relief at Fairfax for 14 years, then was appointed postmaster for 11 years, retiring in 1999. Pat also was very involved in serving in various capacities in numerous groups and organizations - some of which were St. Anthony's Altar Society, Parish Council, Choir, cemetery committee (she helped establish the perpetual care fund), the American Legion Auxiliary (playing a huge part in helping put on our annual Memorial Day Program), Royal Neighbors, Community Club, and the Fairfax Historical Society. A cousin dubbed Pat as "The Governor of Fairfax", and one of St. Anthony's priests gave her the title of "The Fairfax Encyclopedia" because of all of her knowledge in answering many inquiries of the town's history. A very special involvement was being able to go to a good number of Bill's army "Hellcat" reunions at various locations all over the United States. The camaraderie experienced at these reunions made for some wonderful memories. Pat and Bill opened their home to house school teachers earlier in their marriage, and starting in 1978, they played host to 12 wonderful exchange students from Mexico and Brazil over the course of the next decade plus. This led to 3 separate trips they were able to make to visit in Mexico, and led to unbelievable new family ties that were established through those trips, as well as the Mexican families' visits to South Dakota, too. No matter what Pat endeavored to do, she did it with a love and passion that was unmatched by a lot of people. While she loved and cared so dearly for her own immediate family, so many of whom she met and got to know became her family as well. She loved to phone, write, and visit so many and had a knack for writing - even her short notes could show such personality. People were drawn to Pat and she loved each and every one of them so. Even with her Alzheimer's, Pat's personality shown through so many times. Left to mourn her passing are her son, Jim, of Fairfax, son, Bill and his wife, Tracey of Marion, IA, their daughter, Jessica and her husband, Perry Sitting Crow, as well as great-granddaughter, Roxy Sitting Crow of Estherville, IA, grandson, Matt of Ames, IA , grandson, Brad of Waterloo, IA, daughter, Mary of Fairfax, son, Dave, grandson, Jonah, and granddaughter, Elizabeth, all of Leland, NC, brother, Marvin and his wife, Alice of Lincoln, NE, sister-in-law, Cleone of Rapid City. and her caregiving family, JoAnn, Madalyn, Marlene, Nettie, Karey, Cindy and the substitute hospice nurses. Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Bill in 1994, son, Mark in 2013, sisters Marie, Caroline, Ida, and Dolores, brother, Loren, and a host of other relatives. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 2, 2015 at 10:30 AM at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Fairfax, SD. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, Fairfax. There will be a rosary on Sunday at 7:00 PM at the Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to both services at the church.