Jean E. Bowen, 84 passed away Sunday, March 27, 2011 while under the loving care of the staff at Golden Living Center in Madison, South Dakota.

Jean Ellen Davis was born January 26, 1927 in Madison, South Dakota to Hiram and Lillian Davis. She lived her childhood and young adult life on the family farm in Ramona and Flandreau. Although painfully shy, Jean married John Bowen, the most talkative man in Moody County, on September 28, 1944, in Flandreau. In 1946, the couple moved to start their own farm 1 and ½ miles West of Colman. There the couple raised their four children. On the farm, Jean taught herself how to cook and bake and devoted herself to the well-being of her family. In 1977, Jean and John built a new home and moved to Colman, where she lived until moving to Madison in 2003. Jean was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Colman, the Altar Society, and the Catholic Daughters of America. Jean cared for everything around her. Her home was meticulously clean but always warm, welcoming, and especially grandkid-friendly. Her self-taught skills yielded delicious home-cooked dinners, suppers, and the most fabulous apple pies which were happily enjoyed by her husband, children, and grandchildren. She loved to garden and grew stunning tulips, beautiful gladiolas, colorful four o'clocks, and amazing cannas. Her yard was immaculate, a Southern Heights gem. A good Democrat, Jean possessed a sharp political wit and was always interested in national and world affairs. She was caring, unselfish, appreciative and curious. She was strong-willed and determined. She had a keen sense of humor and a fun-loving laugh.

Jean is survived by John, her husband of 67 years; daughters Sharon (Alvin) Gullickson, Colman, and Susan (Jim) Thompson, Colman; sons Gary, Sioux Falls, Doug (Julie) of Chester; sister Janet Green, Independence, OR.; seventeen grandchildren, and twenty-four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, a great-granddaughter, Taylor Haug, her parents, and a brother, Jack Davis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am Thursday, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Colman, with burial at St. Peter Catholic Cemetery. Visitation begins at 4:00 pm Wednesday, with a 4:00 pm Catholic Daughter Rosary and a 6:00 pm Prayer Service at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Colman.