Pastor Charlotte Fillingsness White entered her heavenly home at the age of 68 on February 3, 2023. Char was born on January 4, 1955, to parents Robert and Edna Fillingsness. She grew up on the family farm northwest of Beresford and enjoyed helping with work around the farm. As the oldest of six children, she often took responsibility for the care of her younger siblings. Char graduated from Beresford High School in 1973.

From an early age, music was very important to Char. Along with playing clarinet, Char played the piano and organ. Before her service to God as an ordained pastor, music was one of the ways that she shared God's word with others. It was something she was passionate about and shared with many congregations and organizations over the years. Two of her favorite hymns were Beautiful Savior and Amazing Grace.

Charlotte graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls in Business in 1987 and worked in accounts receivable for several years before she went into ministry.  During that time, she felt a call to Christian ministry and began attending Sioux Falls Seminary.  About half-way through she transferred to Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.  She graduated from there in 2003 and was ordained in the United Church of Christ. She was extraordinarily creative and used her gifts of music and art to draw people, particularly young people, to the gospel. Several congregations benefited from her work as their pastor.

While in school at Eden, she met and married her husband, Pastor Geoff White. Together they enjoyed traveling to Hawaii to visit Geoff's daughter, Sarah, as well as taking a few cruises.  They were married for 19 years.  When Geoff graduated from Eden, they served as co-pastors in ministry at Kanawha (Iowa) Lutheran Church.

Although she had many health challenges in her life, she maintained her confident and positive demeanor and continued to strive to serve God and others.

Char is survived by her husband, Pastor Geoffrey White and siblings Dorothy (Bill) Yeager, Bob (Rhonda) Fillingsness, Sonja (Scott) Ledford), Connie (Dave) Dahl, and Janel (Craig) Bak. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, family members, and friends.

Char was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Edna Fillingsness.

Funeral services will be 10:30AM Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at Skrefsrud Free Lutheran Church, 46920 292 ^nd Street, Beresford, SD. Visitation will be 5-7PM Tuesday at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford.