Wilma Halsey

A remembrance gathering of friends and family will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2024, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at 911 College St. in Springfield, SD. Peters Funeral Chapel of Springfield, SD, is in charge of arrangements. Wilma Lavena (Krieger) Halsey was born on October 31, 1932 to Adam and Katherine Krieger, the fourth of five children. Wilma grew up on the family farm outside of Burke, SD, speaking German at home and attending the Lucas Baptist Church. 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 enjoyed 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 a ballroom dancer, cook and baker. She sewed dozens of doll clothes and costumes for Halloween, school and church plays, and made scrapbooks.

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 on July 10, 2024. Survivors include her children: Linda (Duane) Wegman of Sioux Falls, SD, Cindy (Merlin) Tolsma of Springfield, SD, and Mike (Lori) Halsey of Lebanon, OR; ten 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.