Delores Mae ( Minnaert) Staudenmier passed away peacefully on October 17, 2026, surrounded by her family in Sioux Falls. Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, at the Dow Rummel Village in the Halladay-Peterson Chapel.

Visitation will be from 5:006:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, with a Liturgical Wake and Holy Rosary beginning at 6:30 p.m. at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory.

Her Graveside Service will be 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 23 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Wagner. Visit www. georgeboom.com for an online guestbook.

Dee was born in Madison on October 24, 1933. She grew up on a farm near Madison, attending Orland School and graduating from South Dakota State University with a degree in Home Economics. While working at Wall Drug as a Jewelry Counter Clerk one summer break from SDSU, she met Edward Staudenmier, also a SDSU graduate.

Dee taught Home Economics in Castlewood High School for two years prior to their marriage on June 11,1957.

After living in Sioux Falls for two years, Dee and Ed moved to Wagner in 1960 and raised their family of six children. Devoted to her Catholic Faith, Dee was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church happily serving on many committees, generously sharing her time and talents in service of others.

She was a member of The Court of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Daughters, and the Alter Society. She was a member of The Wagner Community Hospital Auxiliary, a 50 year+ member of Chapter W of PEO, and very involved with the Charles Mix County Historical Society and Museum. She participated along with her husband and family in float projects for Labor Day, and various community celebrations. With her husband and family, she loved camping and boating, wine making following family excursions picking chokecherries and wild plums, and continued golfing with Ed long past retirement. Dee and Ed were blessed to be able to travel the world, visiting Africa, Japan, South America (Galapagos Islands), and extensively in the United States.

Dee would spend frequent evenings preparing special dishes for functions, preparing for camping\\vacation trips, and in general “puttering” around her kitchen. Food and baking were her love language, and many in her circle have favorites that she would make for them. Each Christmas care package was filled with traditional goodies with a little bit extra of the treat that was your personal favorite. She leaves a legacy of her baking skills and love of unique ethnic foods that she passed on to her children and grandchildren.

Dee is survived by her siblings, Sr. Marlene Minnaert, Marcella Headley, Edward “Joe” Minnaert, Ken (Elaine) Minnaert, Rosemary Limmer, Kathy (Jerry) Elshere, and Francis (Joan) Minnaert; her six children, Diane Hawkins of Sioux Falls, Karen (Jay) Snyder of Goodyear, AZ, Julie (Rick) Cutler, New York, NY, David (JoAnn), Chandler, AZ, Michael (Kristin) Staudenmier, Sioux Falls, and Susan (Ted) Lielkoks, Grand Junction, CO. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Tasha Clyde, Jacob Hawkins, Melanie (Snyder) and Aaron Blevins, Mitchell and Kaila Snyder, Lu Durkee and Ana Benaroya, Karina Staudenmier and Karrington Mohr, Rachel (Staudenmier) and Kyle Spalding, Nick and Tannika (Ingalls) Staudenmier, Erin (Lielkoks) and Blake Miller, Andrea (Lielkoks) and June Oliver, as well as many great grandchildren.

Dee was predeceased by her husband, Ed, sisters Margaret, Audrey, and Lynnette, also brothers Richard and Ronald, and son-in-law John Hawkins.

Dee’s family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at Dow Rummel Village for their kindness and loving care. Donations in Dee’s memory may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church or the Mother of God Monastery, Watertown.