Marlys Hafner

1938 - 2015

Marlys Hafner

Marlys Mae Hafner, 76, of Howard, SD, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2015, surrounded by her family at Whispering Winds Assisting Living Center, Howard. Funeral services will be 2pm, Monday, January 5, 2015 at Bethany Lutheran Church with burial in the Graceland Cemetery, Howard. Visitation will begin Sunday at 1pm with family present at 5pm and a Prayer service to be said at 7pm, all at the Willoughby Funeral Home, Howard. Marlys Mae Steele was born on May 23, 1938 to William and Margaret (Spoelstra) Steele in Pipestone, MN. Marlys graduated from Pipestone High School in 1956 and then went to Nettleton Business College, Sioux Falls, SD, graduating in 1958. Marlys then worked at Levy Lumber Sales in Sioux Falls for a brief period before her marriage to Wilfred Hafner on February 9, 1960, in Luverne, MN. The couple farmed near Clayton, SD, area before they moved to their farm near Howard in 1964. After Wilfred died in 1996, she lived on the farm until Oct. of 1997, when she moved into Howard. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Howard and Madison VFW Auxillary. Marlys is survived by her children: Cheryl (Dave) Horsley of Humboldt, SD; Teresa (Rob) Fuerstenberg of Wilmont, MN; John Hafner of Hartford, SD; Julie (Herb) Barber of Wessington Springs, SD; Susan (Alan) Mergen of Brookings, SD; and Michael Hafner of Howard, SD; her grandchildren: Stephanie Horsley, Emily (Michael) Turnwall, Hilary Horsley, Clinton Fuerstenberg (fiancée Kerrie Krusback), Rachel (Jeremy) Thalacker, Tyler Fuerstenberg, Cassie Fuerstenberg, Becky Barber, Cody Barber, Bailey Mergen, Payton Mergen, Sadie Mergen, her step grandchildren: Mandy (Chad) Keller, Preston (Jane) Barber, her step gr-grandchildren: Michael Keller, Cassidy Keller, Abigail Keller, Danniel Keller, Shelby Barber, Udell Barber, Elijah Thalacker, Callia Thalacker; her brothers: Roger Steele of St. Peter, MN; Daryl Steele; Ronald Steele both of Pipestone, MN; her sister-in-law: Bonnie (Bill) Kollmann of Pharr, TX, several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Marlys was preceded in death by her husband: Wilfred, parents, sister: Janice Jacobson, step great granddaughter: Addison Keller, sisters-in-law: Mildred Ven Osdel, Ruby Stowell and Lula Hatfield.