Obituary of Norma Jean Lethcoe

Norma Jean (Moses) Lethcoe, 80, of Yankton, SD, died Thursday evening, April 3, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family. She fought the battle of cancer with grace and dignity. Mass of Christian Burial is at 10:30 am, Tuesday April 8, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Burial will be in the Yankton Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitations begin at 4 pm, Monday April 7, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, with a rosary at 7 pm followed by a scripture service and family sharing at 7:30 pm. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Jean Lethcoe was born May 14, 1933 in Yankton, SD to Orville and Marie (Lockman) Moses. She grew up in Yankton and attended Yankton Public Schools. On December 30, 1950 she married Dale L. Lethcoe in Yankton, SD. Dale was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. They moved to several duty stations across the United States and Europe. When Dale died in 1961, she moved the family back to Yankton to raise her children and further her education. She earned a BA in Home Economics at Mount Marty College, Yankton, SD; teaching in the Home Economics and the Education Departments for 36 years. Along the way she also earned a MA of Education at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD. While at Mount Marty College she was recognized as the South Dakota Home Economist of the Year. Jean was a devoted wife, mother and leader of her extended family. Known for gathering and communicating information, she organized many activities. She had a profound love of teaching, traveling and cultivating friendships. In her leisure she was a sports fan, rooting on her MMC Lancers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Denver Broncos. Jean was often found working with her hands. She enjoyed creative home arts, taught sewing and often made clothes for herself and others. Jean was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, American Home Economics Association and Gold Star Wives. For 19 years she was Co-Editor of the YHS Class of 1951 Prairie Chatter newsletter. Jean is survived by her three children, a daughter, Vickie (Terry) Buschelman of Bellevue, NE; and two sons; Kent (Barbara) of Sioux Falls, SD; and Mark (Deborah) of South Sioux City, NE; 10 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; a sister, Joan Licata of Northglenn, CO; sisters-in-law, JoAnn Moses of Yankton, SD, Donna Kalbfleisch of Lawton, OK and Jan Sudbeck of St. Helena, NE; close cousin Marilyn Pates of Yankton, SD; and special friend Sister Candyce Chrystal of Yankton, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dale; sister Betty Prunty; brother James Moses; brothers-in-law, Thomas Prunty, Lonnie Licata and David Kalbfleisch. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Jean Lethcoe Endowed Scholarship at Mount Marty College, 1105 W. 8th St., Yankton, SD 57078.