Jo Haffield

Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Winner Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow at a late date. Jo Ann (Nebola) Haffield was born on April 22, 1941, the first of six children of Ed and Helen Nebola. She grew up on a farm south of Gregory, SD. During her high school years, she worked at the Tasty Shop and boarded with Rassmussens, the owners of the ice cream business. Whether she was the student or teacher, education was always an integral part of Jo’s life. She graduated from Gregory High School in 1959 and then attended Northern State where she earned her two-year teaching degree in 1961. Her first job was in Mitchell, SD, where she taught fifth grade. She then moved to Winner to teach fifth grade in 1962. In 1966 she was one of four new kindergarten teachers in the Winner School District, as this was the first year for the kindergarten program. At the time, classes were held at the First Christian Church. She taught kindergarten for three years. By this time, she had her two children and decided to start a preschool in the basement of her home. When she made the decision to continue her career in public education, she needed a four-year degree.

She began working for Community Connections (then known as Adjustment Training Center). This job provided her time to resume her education during the summer program at Northern State. She graduated with her full teaching degree in 1978. Jo then taught first grade at Winner Central Elementary. She later earned a masters in counseling from the University of South Dakota. Jo became the elementary counselor at Winner Elementary where she stressed the importance of the six pillars of character with Character Counts. She stayed in this position until her retirement in 2006. Jo also enjoyed her extra jobs which she held in the summer and later during retirement. These jobs included hotel reservation clerk, custodian at the Winner United Methodist Church, and the education director at the church.

Jo married Vernon Haffield in 1962 in Gregory, SD, and they had two children: Jerry and Julie. They later divorced. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

During her free time, she enjoyed sewing, which also provided a supplemental income when she was younger. She sewed many of her children’s clothes and Julie’s wedding dress. She also sewed all of the bridesmaids’ dresses for the wedding. Jo also enjoyed crocheting and made several afghans. Baking dozens and dozens of kolaches was her favorite activity at Christmas.

Her alter ego, Rosie Montefalco, became a part of Jo’s life when she performed in the Opal plays with the Winner Community Playhouse. Jo created a bodysuit and had a selection of clothing that she donned to perform as Rosie on stage and at other events outside of the Playhouse.

Jo was a leader for Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls and a member of the Winner Methodist Church, P.E.O. Chapter AM, Order of Eastern Star, ZCBJ/Western Fraternal Lodge, the Winner Community Playhouse, and the Tripp Co. Historical Society.

Jo Haffield, age 83, of Winner, SD, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner, SD.

Jo is survived by her son Jerry, and his wife Pam, of Sioux Falls, SD, and her daughter Julie, and her husband, Ryan, of Colome, SD; grandchildren: Morgan Haffield and her daughter Daniella Sponsler, of Philadelphia, Michael Rohde (Brittney Evans) of Colome, SD, Justin Haffield (Kate Marchand) of Sioux Falls, SD, and Zane Rohde of Colome, SD; sister Virginia Kingsbury, of O’Neill, NE; brother Ed (Sharon) Nebola of Gregory, SD; special cousins, Marlene Hoppes and Carol Kindlesparker of Indiana; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Jo was preceded in death by her father Ed Nebola; her mother Helen Karl; step-father Rudy Karl; sister Helen Hoffman and husband Don; her sister Fran Lake, and husband Mike; brother John; sister-in-law Julie Nebola; brother-in-law Robert Kingsbury; and special aunts and uncles: George and Val Sebesta, and Joe and Helen Maska.