Sherma Kay (Glanzer Bittner) Gacke, age 75 of Hartford, SD passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at Ava's House Hospice in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 3, 2025, at Miller Funeral Home (507 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls) with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

"Today my sweet girl passed away. After more than 38 years of trucking together and 35 years of marriage. She is free of the pain of this world. To be with her God and her sweet daughter, Missy. I hope they have a truck up there in Heaven for you to cruise in. I have been by your side for years. I will be by your side again someday, to head down the golden trail again. Rest in peace my sweet girl, hammer down." -Love always, John

Sherma was born at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD on March 6, 1949. She was raised by her Aunt Barbara Glanzer and Grandpa David Glanzer in Freeman, SD for the first six years of her life. She stayed with her mother, Mary Glanzer-Tholen, in Sioux Falls, and was in foster care from age six to eight years old. At eight years old, she went back to stay with her aunt and grandfather.

On February 14, 1965, Sherma married Reinhold "Reiny" Bittner. They were blessed with two children, Lisa Marie and Michelle Dawn. In 1977, she and Reiny began driving semis across the country. In 1985, Sherma and Reiny moved to Sioux Falls and began trucking for Midwest Coast Transfer (MCT), working for Paul Harris. Also in 1985, Sherma went through treatment, quit smoking, and was sober for the rest of her life. She was a proud member of the Sioux Falls Westside AA.

After Sherma and Reiny were divorced in 1986, she partnered up with John Gacke, working for Tom Cronin at MCT. In 1987, she and John were in a trucking accident, where Sherma badly hurt her back. They found out that they were not only meant to be trucking partners, but partners for life and were engaged in 1988. They were married at Christ Lutheran Church in Hartford, SD on December 9, 1989. They started Gacke Truck Service, Inc in 1991, which was also the year Sherma stopped trucking after 20 years behind the wheel of 18-wheelers. They moved to Hartford Heights in December 1993.

Some of Sherma's favorite stories in life were of times spent with John, her daughters, and the Gacke family. A few of her favorite trucking stories included bugging John about his shirts that were so stretched out and old that the buttonholes would not stay closed. He would not get rid of the shirts, so she threw them out the truck window as they drove down the road. On a trip through the Rockies in the winter, Sherma missed a gear and ended up having an exciting ride as they slid down a mountain backwards. Christmas at the home of Donald and Deloris Gacke in Ivanhoe, MN were some of the best days of her life. They were spent with her children and chosen family, surrounded by presents and Christmas cheer. (Even though the main goal of the family men may have been who would get the most drunk.) Donald Gacke accepted her into his family as a second daughter and always called her "Babe." Deloris Gacke was not a hugger, but she became better at it with Sherma's help. Sherma found out that her sister-in-law, Valerie (Gacke) Lietz, had a temper and she showed it best by slamming doors in the Gacke home. Sherma, Valerie, Lisa, and Michelle swore never to ride again with Deloris after a trip back to Ivanhoe from Brookings, SD. It was raining hard. Deloris was speeding and talking with her hands as the car was hydroplaning and Deloris did not notice or care! John also introduced Sherma to some great dogs: first, their black Labrador, Pat, then the Schipperkas: Midnight, Gypsy, Princess, and Michelle's Lucy.

Grateful for sharing her life are her husband, John Gacke of Hartford, SD; daughter, Lisa (Russell) Johnson of Beresford, SD; nephew, Justin (Hannah) Lietz of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Alexis (James) Karrels of Sturgis, SD, and Riley Johnson of Beresford, SD; sister-in-law, Valerie (Richard) Lietz of Sioux Falls, SD; life-long friends, Pat McMahon and Ione Hofer; and cousins, Jerry and Elaine Glanzer.

Sherma was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Michelle Bittner; ex-husband, Reinhold Bittner; grandpa, David Glanzer; aunt, Barbara Glanzer; uncle, Joe Glanzer; cousin, Leland Glanzer; brother-in-law, Zeke Bittner; and in-laws, Donald and Deloris Gacke.