Lois M. (Hoff) Heyn, age 75, of Watertown, SD passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 23rd, 2020 in the comfort of her home surrounded by the love of her family members.
Lois Mae was born to William “Nick” and Clara (Johnson) Hoff on April 20, 1945 in Clear Lake, SD. She was baptized at Holy Rosary Church and grew up in Goodwin with 5 sisters and 1 brother. She attended school at Holy Rosary Catholic School, Goodwin School and graduated from Clear Lake High School.
On Nov. 16th, 1963 she married her high school sweetheart, farming companion and life-long dancing partner, Richard A. "Dick" Heyn at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kranzburg, SD and for the next 56 years they “did life together”. Their unwavering love and the grace of God blessed them with 7 children, 17 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Their home was always filled with love and constant house guests. Whether caring for daycare children or opening up her home for extended stays of grandchildren or house guests; Lois was a selfless caretaker of all.
Family was everything to Lois! Nothing made her happier than to have all her children and grandchildren at home for holidays or a drop-in visit. For all the care she had given them over the years, her family had the opportunity to return it in the last few years of her life proving to be very good caretakers themselves, leaving the legacy she had always hoped for.
The couple farmed in Goodwin until 1985 when they moved to Watertown. Lois loved milking cows and driving John Deere tractors. She was employed at MN Rubber for 10 years. She then embarked on the greatest career of all: Lil Britches Daycare. For the next 15 years she was known as “Grandma Lois” to a multitude of children and had an enormous impact on so many families. When she wasn’t caring for children or rocking babies; she enjoyed country music, dancing, shopping, cooking and baking in LARGE quantities. (She didn’t own a 9X13 pan)!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Saturday, Aug. 29th, 2020 at 1:00 pm with Father Richard Fox officiating.
The family will be available to greet friends during open visitation at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Friday, Aug. 28th, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm with a prayer service to follow.
Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown following the service.
Active Pallbearers will be grandson’s; Nathan and Spencer Mack, and Ryan, Kyle, Justin, Bradley and Adam Heyn.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Lois’ grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and Grandma Lois’ Daycare families.
Lois is survived by her husband Richard; 7 children; 17 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren: James (Lisa) Heyn of Watertown – (2 children & 2 grandchildren); Randall Heyn of Goodwin; JoLynne (Marty) Mack of Watertown – (4 children & 2 grandchildren); Steven (Jodi) Heyn of Chester – (4 children and 3 grandchildren); Terrence (Angela) Heyn of Castlewood – (3 sons); Leon (Tracy) Heyn of Harrisburg – (2 daughters) and Kenneth (Jen) Heyn of Watertown – (2 daughters).
Her surviving siblings are William (Alice) Hoff of Watertown; Janette Cook of Watertown; Darlene (Doug) Stohr of Clear Lake; Anita (Tom) Kranz of Goodwin. Brothers-in-law Larry (Gail) Heyn of Swea City, IA; Vince (Carol) Heyn of Huron; Mike Heyn of Watertown; Dale Heyn of Goodwin. She also has many nieces and nephews that were loved like her own children.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Louise Reichling and Judy Bachman.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown, www.wightandcomes.com