Resident killed in Alcester crash nursed others for 25 years

Marcene Gabel was a devoted mother and hard worker, someone who had a heart for taking care of others before herself. 

Gabel, 79, loved to garden and even learned to play the organ later in her life. 

Gabel died Monday in a crash at the Alcester Care and Rehab Center, where she had worked in patient care and rehab for about 25 years before becoming a resident in October 2015. 

"My mom was a reserved woman and was a hard worker. She never took much time for herself," said her youngest daughter Cindy Gabel. "She was always taking care of everything and everyone."

Authorities are expected to officially release the names of the victims Thursday, but family members are speaking out. The crash killed two, Gabel and 31-year-old Jenna Benzel, and injured six. 

Gabel was mother to four, grandmother to seven and great-grandmother to four. She helped in taking care of her brothers and sister growing up. 

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The crash occurred Monday when an 81-year-old woman pulled into a driveway area near the building and unintentionally stepped on the gas instead of the brakes, sending the car into the building, said South Dakota Highway Patrol spokesman Tony Mangan.

A group of residents and staff members were outside doing a physical therapy session.  

One of Cindy Gabel's favorite memories of her mother was when she was from her college days, when her mother came to the rescue. Cindy Gabel's car had broken down and she was low on cash, so her mother came and took her to get a big bowl of spaghetti. 

"We spent another day together going to the Custer National Park, which was unusual to spend time with her alone because I have three older sisters," Cindy Gabel said. 

Visitation is scheduled for Saturday at a church in Beresford.