Joanne Hofwolt, 72, of Mitchell, died Saturday, June 6, 2020, at her home in Mitchell.

Funeral services were held Thursday, June 11, at Mitchell Wesleyan Church. Burial was in Servicemen’s Memorial Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation was Wednesday, June 10, with a prayer service at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Joanne was born Oct. 15, 1947, to Ray E. and Anna N. (Wranek) Adams of Alexandria at the Methodist Hospital in Mitchell.

In her early years Joanne started school at Letcher Public School. She completed the rest of her education in the Mitchell Public Schools when her parents had moved to Mitchell in April 1954. She graduated from Mitchell Public School in 1965.

Joanne began employment at St. Joseph Hospital in Mitchell. She also worked with the Adjustment Training Center (LifeQuest). Joanne attended Dakota Wesleyan University and graduated in 1978 with a BA in social work. She was a licensed social worker in the state of South Dakota. In later years, she was a dietician at Bethel Lutheran Nursing Home when she moved to Madison.

On Oct. 15, 1988, Joanne Adams married Stanley Hofwolt. The Hofwolts moved back to Mitchell where Joanne used her BA in social work to gain employment at Firesteel Healthcare Center for the next 15 years. After her employment ended there, she took employment with Home Instead. She retired in June 2019.

Joanne and her husband Stanley Hofwolt were also foster parents for many kids over the last 25 years, and eventually adopted four of the children as their own over the years. Joanne was an active member of the Mitchell Wesleyan Church where she volunteered in the Arms of Love program and in the nursery on Sundays.  She volunteered as a lunch lady occasionally at Mitchell Christian School. Joanne was active in her community and involved in organizations such as Red Hatters, MACPD, and a few others. Joanne enjoyed family vacations, Bingo, cooking, planning, and setting up and hosting family events. She was kind, hardworking and cheerful.

Joanne is survived by her husband, Stanley Hofwolt of Mitchell; daughters, Anna (Steven) Nussbaum of Plankinton and Sara Hofwolt of Sioux Falls; sons, Anthony and Alexander Bear Robe – Hofwolt of Mitchell, and William Hofwolt of Sioux Falls; three grandchildren; sisters, Betty Christensen, Nancy Kirchmeirer, and Diana Wick, all of Mitchell; brothers, David Adams of Everett, Wash. and Gary Adams of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives grateful to have shared her life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ray E. and Anna N. (Wranek) Adams; brothers, Clarence, Arthur and Kenneth Adams; sisters, Alta (Melvin) Gering and Esther (Donald) Underwood.

Lloyd Steichen, 74, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at his residence in Sioux Falls. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Lloyd was born Sept. 10, 1945, in Woonsocket to Elmer and Dorothy (Hinker) Steichen.

Lloyd graduated from Woonsocket High School. He then attended college at Dakota Wesleyan University from 1965-1966, following, he pursued a bachelor’s at the National College in Business and graduated with an accounting degree in 1969. Lloyd was also a member of the South Dakota National Guard from 1963 to 1980.

Lloyd was married to Ruth Skells on June 17, 1978, in Woonsocket. Lloyd worked as an auditor for Sioux Falls, a state auditor for South Dakota, and was a night auditor for various hotels throughout his life. Besides work he loved watching sports, and his various cats he had throughout the years.

Lloyd is survived by his daughter, Anne (Robert) Peterson of Sioux Falls; one granddaughter; brother, Dean (Marilyn) Steichen of San Francisco, Calif.; sisters, Connie (Willis) Hill of Gillette, Wyo. and Linda Hoff of Los Angeles, Calf.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Steichen; parents, Elmer and Dorothy Steichen; and sisters, Elaine Steichen and Carol Luna.

Patricia K. Van Walleghen, 82, of Letcher, died Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at her home under hospice care. 

Funeral services were held Monday, June 8, at the Will Funeral Chapel with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation was held on Sunday, June 7, at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service. 

Patricia K. Van Walleghen, daughter of Clayton and Lillian (Hetland) Digerness, was born July 31, 1937, in Mitchell.  She attended Leet School in Elliot Township, Letcher, and graduated from Letcher High School in 1955.  She then attended Augustana College, graduating with a BA in Commercial and a minor in English in 1959.

On August 9, 1959, she was united in marriage with Merlin Van Walleghen at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Letcher. To this union, three children were born, Paula, Todd and Troy.

Patricia student taught in Fedora. She was then a teacher in Forestburg and Letcher. She was then hired at Letcher as a business manager and continued to teach business classes as well as kindergarten.  Patricia enjoyed water skiing and playing golf.

She was active in her church in Letcher, playing the organ and serving as treasurer for many years. She was also the head of the funeral committee.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband; Merlin Van Walleghen of Letcher;  two children, Paula (Tom) Minnaert of North Plains, Ore. and Todd (Kim) Van Walleghen of Letcher; five grandchildren; a sister, Joan Hinrichs of Marshall, Mo.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Troy Van Walleghen, and her parents.