Obituary of Mildred E. Holec

Mildred E. Holec, age 90, of Yankton, SD passed away Saturday, February 15, 2014 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Tuesday, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with a rosary at 7:00 PM followed by a Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers are Willie Swensen, Sarah Swensen, Matthew Kotalik, Dasha Kotalik, Kiel Schieffer and Blake Swensen. Honorary Pallbearers are Kalie Swensen, Taylor Swensen, Laura Parks and Elwood "Woody" Sanders. Mildred Holec was born January 28, 1924, on a farm near Dante, South Dakota, to Jerry and Anna (Dolezal) Konfrst. She graduated from Bellview School in South Rouse School District #5 in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. She grew up on the family farm near Dante, and worked for her two sisters, helping with the cooking, cleaning, and their children. After Mildred's mother died, she and her father purchased and operated a grocery store in Dante for several years until her marriage. On April 16, 1951, she married Edward Holec, where they settled on a farm northeast of Wagner, South Dakota, and raised a family of four daughters. In December, 1969, Mildred and Ed sold the farm and moved their family to Yankton, South Dakota. Mildred was a stay-at-home mom, caring for her daughter, Marsha, who was born with Cerebral Palsy. She also babysat for several different families and worked at Gurney's Seed & Nursery for a short time. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for over 40 years. Mildred's many talents included cooking, baking, canning, crocheting, and cleaning. She was exceptional at playing Scrabble and also enjoyed playing cards, putting puzzles together, reading, and working crossword puzzles. Mildred lived for several years at Autumn Winds Assisted Living and then moved to Yankton Care Center for a short time. She then moved to Sister James Nursing Home at Majestic Bluffs in March, 2010, where she resided until her death. People were drawn to Mildred for her kindness, great personality, quick wit, and great listening skills. Grateful for having shared her life are daughters: Vicki (John) Swensen of Yankton, SD, Marilyn (James) Kotalik of Aurora, CO, and Kathy Schieffer of Amarillo, TX; her grandchildren: Willie Swensen of Sioux Falls, SD and his children: Blake, Kalie and Taylor Swensen of Yankton, SD, Sarah Swensen and Elwood Sanders of Gayville, SD, Matthew Kotalik and fiancé Laura Parks, and Dasha Kotalik, all of Lakewood, CO; and Kiel Schieffer of Amarillo, TX. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Edward, on January 18, 2003, daughter, Marsha Holec (twin to Marilyn) on December 16, 1999, sisters, Mary (Joe) Krcil, Anna (Vit) Krcil, and brothers, Frank, Jerry, Thomas and Joseph Konfrst.