Wilma Halsey, 91, of Springfield

Wilma Lavena (Krieger) Halsey was born on October 31, 1932 to Adam and Katherine Krieger, the fourth of their five children. Wilma grew up on the family farm outside of Burke, SD, speaking German at home and attending the Lucas Baptist Church.

A self-proclaimed tomboy, Wilma would rather help her dad with outside chores than work inside the house. She didn't mind collecting cowpies to burn for heat at home, and once killed a rattler that had gotten in her way. She wanted to show her brothers, so she draped it around her bicycle's handlebars and brought it home.

Wilma graduated from Burke High School in 1950, then earned her two-year degree in elementary education from Southern State Teachers College in 1952. That summer, she married Harold (Tuffy) Halsey and taught country school while he completed his Army assignment out east. Eventually she returned to college and completed her BSE in Business in 1972.

Wilma and Tuffy were married for 34 years, raising their three children (Linda, Cindy and Mike) while they farmed, ran a bus line, and built Halsey Construction. When the couple divorced in 1985, Wilma moved to Mesa, AZ, where they had begun wintering a few years earlier.

Wilma loved competition in any form, including card games (especially bridge), pool, ping pong, bowling, golf, and tennis. She enjoyed hiking, water and snow skiing, swimming, gardening, puzzles of any kind, and socializing. She was an excellent ballroom dancer, cook and baker. She sewed dozens of doll clothes and costumes for Halloween, school and church plays. She loved making scrapbooks and very likely kept the neatest and most organized house in town.

She was fearless, independent, and strong-willed, and those traits undoubtedly helped her deal with life's challenges. Wilma was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and dementia, which took their toll over the later years of her life.

Wilma moved back to South Dakota in 2022 to be closer to family as her health continued to decline.  She passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024 with her daughters by her side at Angelhaus in Yankton.  A celebration of her life is being planned for a later date.

Survivors include her children: Linda (Duane) Wegman of Sioux Falls, SD, Cindy (Merlin) Tolsma of Springfield, SD, and Mike (Lori) Halsey of Lebanon, OR; 10 grandchildren: Carl, John, Aaron, Amber, Kristin, Cori, Katie, Joshua, Nichole and Amber; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sisters Doris and Lois; and several nieces and nephews.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents Adam and Katherine; first husband Tuffy; brothers Roy and Leo; brothers-in-law Larry and Art; and sisters-in-law Kathy and Ardis.

A very special thank you to the staff at Angelhaus in Yankton. You truly cared about Mom as though she were one of your own family members. Your tireless care and endless compassion made all the difference in her life and ours during the challenging final months of her earthly journey. We are so grateful.