Obituary of Ann N. Halverson

HALVERSON ANN

Ann Halverson, age 74 of Yankton, SD passed away early Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society, Scotland, SD.

Ann was born February 8, 1944 in Crofton, NE to Lawrence and Katheryne (Eickhoff) Hofmaier.  She learned the value of hard work, devotion and generosity early in life, growing up on the family farm surrounded by six brothers, two sisters and an entire community of friends and neighbors who inspired her faith. She attended St. Rose Catholic School and graduated from Crofton High School in 1962.  Ann moved to Yankton with a classmate and ultimately met Glenn Halverson, the football player who won her heart.  They were married August. 8, 1964 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Crofton, NE.  During her lifetime, Ann fulfilled many roles.  She served as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, in-law, neighbor and friend.  It's no surprise that she found a way to play the nurturer in all of them.  Ann was one-of-a-kind.  She lived simply, faithfully and compassionately and always put the needs of her loved ones ahead of her own.

Ann’s working career began at Keating's Creamery and lasted until the birth of their third daughter, when she focused on raising her family - and everything else - on the farm she and Glenn purchased near his parents north of Yankton.  Once the girls had all reached school age, Ann re-entered the workforce, this time at Gurney's Seed and Nursery.  It was a perfect fit, considering she and Glenn had already begun planting a huge garden, the bounty of which they shared with everyone they knew.  She was blessed with a green thumb and expertly canned or froze whatever bushels remained.  Ann began her bookkeeping career with Yankton Beverage Company in 1999 and continued at Conkling Distributing, working right up until her 70th birthday.  Though it appeared she had retired, anyone who knew her soon recognized that she simply stopped working off the farm.  She brushed off health issues of her own so she could dedicate herself to caring for Glenn at home as long as she could.  That loving devotion continued when they entered the Good Samaritan Society in Scotland and had not stopped despite his death.

Throughout her life, Ann utilized her sewing talents to patch, alter and hem everything from jeans and dress pants to formal dresses - for her granddaughters, of course.  Cooking and baking for friends and loved ones were her passions.  If you stopped by, you were encouraged to stay until it came out of the oven.  You were considered lucky if her cinnamon rolls emerged.  She rarely took time for herself, but Ann was active in the fireman's auxiliary, joined a card club where she learned to play canasta and found her niche as a member of the Gayville Garden Club.   Ann was filled with patience, strength and grace and possessed a loving heart that swelled with the welcome addition of every soon-to-be-spoiled grandchild and great-grandchild.  Despite the many farm and work responsibilities she shouldered, this loving grandmother always found time to nurture them, too. Many memories were created along a garden row, beside a flower bed, under the shade of the pine trees or nestled in her rocking chair listening to story after story. Some of the best ones, though, took place inside her kitchen, standing on a stool beside her as she taught them life's most important lessons.

Ann is survived by daughters, Lisa Halverson and Cindy (Jonathan) Lange, both of Yankton, SD, Brenda (Larry) Mudder of Avon, SD; eight grandchildren:  Diandra Diede (Kelly Gordon) of Sioux Falls, SD, Karlin (Tanner) Houseman of Humboldt, SD, Marissa Diede, Madilyn Mudder and Landon Mudder, all of Avon, SD, Alyssa Lange of Brookings, SD, Adam Lange and Allison Lange, both of Yankton, SD; three great-grandchildren:  Kaelor, Tatum and Emilia; brothers:  Dennis (Jan) Hofmaier of Downers Grove, IL, Terence Hofmaier of San Diego, CA, Jim Hofmaier of North Bend, OR, Gordon (Judy) Hofmaier of Mitchell, NE; sister, Jane (Larry) Rupiper of Yankton, SD; sister-in-law, Sally Hofmaier of Coleridge, NE; her late sister's dear friend, Hillie Harris of  Yorktown, VA; beloved in-laws:  Ray (Sue) Petersen of Daytona Beach, FL, Keith (Caroline) Halverson of Sioux Falls, SD, Derald Halverson of Casa Grande, AZ, Charlene (George) Wright of Marion, SD, Darlis (Tom) Pokela of Sioux Falls, SD, Alice Peterson of Bellevue, NE and numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family tree.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Glenn in January 2016; siblings:  Don Hofmaier, Allan (Ardie) Hofmaier and Ethel Hofmaier and in-laws, Raymond and Ida Halverson, Gertrude Halverson, Clare Petersen and Frendy Peterson.