Josephine Cecilia Brockhoft, wife and mother, passed away at the age of 89 on July 12, 2018. Jo was born to Alice Schintgen Jungen and Otto Jungen on Jan. 13, 1929 at Valley Springs, SD and was the 3rd born of 12 children. As a young girl the family moved to rural Watertown, S.D. where Otto farmed and worked as a blacksmith to survive the depression years of the 1930’s. These were the days when school kids really did walk several miles to school and obesity was almost non-existent due to the physical hardships faced by the working class. Jo attended the Immaculate Conception Catholic School and graduated from the eighth grade, which was the highest level of formal education that she attained.
Josephine’s adult life began at an early age as she labored in the fields picking potatoes by hand, planting trees, processing poultry, and working as a waitress; all difficult work but always honest labor.
She was united in marriage to Ray Brockhoft on June 19, 1951 at Webster, S.D. They spent their early married years on their farm in the Crocker Hills near Crocker, S.D. where their two sons were born, Rodney in 1953 and Michael in 1955. The family raised cattle, sheep, and chickens and Jo milked cows by hand and sold milk and cream locally.
In 1963 the family moved to Watertown. Daughter Sheila was born in Watertown in 1964 and brought the new joy to Josephine’s life that a daughter can bring.
Josephine was a wife and mother that endured two of the men in her life having served in military service in wartime settings. Jo comforted her husband, Ray, as he endured nightmares from World War II during their early years, and later in her life, she cried for an entire month as she came to grips with her young son Rodney’s tour of duty in Vietnam.
Josephine was proud of the three children that she raised with her husband Ray. Josephine was also very proud that all of her grandchildren graduated from college or vocational school. Jo sang in the church choir for many years in Watertown and enjoyed singing while playing her guitar and organ in later years.
In 1990, Ray and Jo moved to Sioux Falls.
Josephine is survived by children, Rodney (Julie), Mike (Kris), and Sheila (Ralph) Belding; eight grandchildren, Sara (Brent) Jamison, Dr. Nichole Brockhoft (Nick) Shada, Jonathan Brockhoft, Dr. Thomas Brockhoft, Christopher Brockhoft, Lindsey (Paul) Panitzke, Amanda Belding, Valerie Belding; and six great grandchildren, Henry Jamison, Alaina, Mia, and Nicholas Shada, Anthony and Elliot Belding, and Lydia Jo Panitzke; brothers, Leo (Julie) Jungen, Clem Jungen, and Otto (Margaret) Jungen; sisters-in-law, Vivian and Della Jungen and many nieces and nephews.
Josephine was preceded in death by her husband Ray, sisters, Catherine Fisher, Pauline Briggs, Rose Hanks, Mary Hudelson, Margaret Halvorson; and brothers, Nick, John and Roger Jungen.
Goodbye and thank you Mom, Grandma, and G.G. until we meet again and walk together in fields of green clover
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