Debra Hoy

Funeral services for Debra Hoy were held on Monday, September 2, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, Father Ron Garry, officiating and Deacon GW Ekroth, celebrant. Lector was Chad Berens, and gift bearers were great nieces and nephews. Music was provided by St. Joseph Choir, accompanied by Mary Beth Gergen, pianist. Sue Wortman and Guyla Husman were in charge of registration, and flower attendants were Donna Schmitz and Cheri Hansen. Casket bearers were Kelsey Smith, Dana Wockenfuss, Chad Berens, Julia Fritz, Chenise Weber, Carlee Khouny, Mitchell Berens, Mason Berens, Jacob Kuhn, Alexander Kuhn, Sara Berens, Brooke Berens, Megan Berens, Danielle Hoy, and Jayson Holter. Honorary casket bearers were the GHS Class of 1975.

Burial was in the Black Hill National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Debra Martha (Berens) Hoy was born January 11, 1957, in the Gregory Hospital to Lawrence “Vince” and Doris (Pejsa) Berens. She grew up in Gregory and attended the Gregory Public Schools from kindergarten to 12th grade, graduating in 1975. Following high school, she attended Springfield College for Business.

In Gregory, the family attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Deb was active in the Junior Catholic Daughters and was involved in several community activities, such as singing and playing at the nursing home and helping to raise money for March of Dimes and other charities. In school she was active in band, choir, debate, Future Business Leaders of America, and loved learning about government and the political process. Deb was selected as a “Page” and got to serve in Pierre for a session. It was there she really got the desire to be involved in politics..

Deb was the oldest of the five Berens children, and she took that responsibility seriously from early on -and continued to be the “big sister” that provided guidance to her younger siblings to the very end of her life. When she was old enough to babysit, she would assign cleaning tasks to her four siblings and ensure they got done, so when Mom and Dad got home, the house was clean! Deb babysat for a lot of families in town. She also worked as a lifeguard for several summers at the Gregory Swimming Pool.

When Springfield College closed, Deb moved to Sioux Falls and worked at Automotive Farm Supply in accounting and payroll. While working there, she met Carl “Joe” Hoy. Carl was in the SD National Guard and Deb called him G I Joe. On June 12, 1982, Carl and Deb married in Gregory at St Joseph’s Catholic Church by Deb’s life-long friend and classmate, Father Ron Garry.

In 1983, Deb and Carl moved to Herrick to be closer to both of their parents. On September 10, 1983, they welcomed their first born son, Lawrence Jacob (L J). They also lived in Dallas, SD, for a short time and eventually moved to Gregory. While in Gregory, Deb worked at the Fogel Chiropractic Clinic and also worked as the County Magistrate for many years. On September 30, 1986, they welcomed their daughter Cassandra Anna (Casie). While the kids were in school, Deb decided to join them and worked at the school. She was a key player in organizing a band trip, and worked at the school as a librarian and annual advisor.

Father Ray Diesch, the Priest in Gregory, called Deb and her friend, Nancy Ekroth, to tell them that they were going to the state Right-To-Life Convention, and he wanted a Right-To-Life group started in Gregory. In addition to being catalysts in the local organization, Nancy was elected the SD State Secretary and Deb was elected two terms as the State President. Deb also served on the “Vote Yes on 6” campaign. In 2017, Deb and Father Ron Garry, spoke together at the Hour of Reflection at the SD Capitol Rotunda.

With Carl serving in the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 153rd Engineer Battalion, Deb saw her opportunity to serve. She volunteered as the Family Coordinator. She was able to help many families while their spouses were deployed.

After Casie graduated in 2005, Carl and Deb moved back to Sioux Falls, and Deb worked for the Census Bureau. She also worked on a couple of political campaigns. She loved talking to people, discussing the issues. In 2007, Carl and Deb decided to move to Lincoln, NE, to be closer to their new granddaughter Kristen. Many summer days were spent together at the pool, attending all of Kristen’s activities, shopping, and getting their nails done.

While in Lincoln, Deb worked at the University of Nebraska for ten years, after which time she decided to retire. But that didn’t last long, as she got bored and she got a job as the only female in an all male company which made gun parts for the military. When the company lost their military contract, she decided to work just part-time at the St. Louise Gifts and Thrifts in Lincoln. No matter where she worked, she made fast friends and enjoyed her time there.

Her quick wit and cheerful attitude made her fun to be with. Deb fought cancer and went into remission, living cancer-free for many years. The cancer did negatively affect her liver and was too much to overcome. Deb passed away peacefully on August 24, 2024, in the Omaha Medical Centery.

Deb is survived by her husband, Carl (Joe) Hoy of Lincoln, NE; son, LJ Hoy and his wife, Natasha and their son Kaedyn of Fountain, CO; daughter Cassandra Cady and her husband Jeff and their daughter Kristen Mika of Weston, NE; her father LJ “Vince” Berens of Lincoln, NE; her siblings: Sandy (Greg) Smith of Burke, SD, Brad (Lisa) Berens of Hartford, SD, Clete (Robin) of Farmington, NM; and Rod (Candace) of Lincoln, NE; her brother- and sister-in-law Paul and Sherry Hoy of Arlington, SD; Japanese sister Yoko Yaksuyama; and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Doris (Pejsa) Berens, and her mother- and father-in-law, Vivian and Jake Hoy.