Wanda Kelley Lathen, 97, a resident of Winner, South Dakota for many years, passes away peacefully at home in Sun City, Arizona with her five surviving children by her side on Sunday, May 15, 2016.
Wanda was born on the family farm in Witten, SD on November 7, 1918 to William Peter and Margaret Sweeney Kelley. After graduating from school, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse in rural South Dakota. She later worked as a bookkeeper and moved to Washington, D.C. to help with the war effort.
She married Hoyt W. Lathen on 1947 in Winner and dedicated herself to raising their six children. Hoyt and Wanda owned a shoe store on Main Street and as their family grew Hoyt accepted a position with Farmers State Bank. After Hoyt left his employment at the bank, in 1956 the family moved from Winner to Minnesota. In 1980 Hoyt and Wanda retired to Sun City, AZ.
Wanda was a devout Catholic and served as a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas for 76 years. She was an expert bridge player and enjoyed her last game of bridge one week before passing on. She was an exceptionally strong woman and always looked for the good in people. She is known for her selfless ways and her Irish red hair.
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