Barbra Wingert

Barbra Jean (Hewitt) Wingert, 84, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.  

Barb was born on July 7, 1940, in Madison, SD to Ted and Marcella Hewitt.  At about age 5, she moved with her family to the Mitchell, SD area.  She attended Mitchell High School, then worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Truck Haven Café in Mitchell .

She met Lewis Wingert at the roller skating rink in Mitchell, SD upon his return from the U.S. Army.  Barb whistled at Lew, and they skated the Grand March together that night.  They dated and were married at the Methodist Church in Mitchell on June 2, 1959.  Theirs is a love story like no other.

Over the years, Lewis and Barbra lived in Aberdeen, SD and Des Moines, IA.  In 1978, they moved back to Sioux Falls, where they have resided ever since.   They have three children.  Wally was born 1961, Peggy in 1965, and Bonnie in 1971.  Barb always had the radio on while she cared for the children and did housework, and she could often be found singing along and dancing to the beat.

While the children were growing up, Barb was a homemaker who took great pride in providing a loving, nurturing home.  Once, when selling a house they owned in Aberdeen, the woman who bought it said she purchased it because she could feel so much love when she walked in.

After the children were grown, Barb worked at Econofoods in the produce department where she enjoyed meeting customers and joking around with her co-workers.  Barb loved talking to people and was quite social, enjoying a small group of people with whom she had coffee at Hy-Vee on an almost daily basis.

But her greatest joy came from being a central part of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren’s lives.  She adored seeing them, hearing about their accomplishments, and sharing about them with others.  

Barb was also known for her great love of animals, demonstrating to her children how to care for dogs, cats, hamsters, squirrels, birds, and any other animal that crossed her path. At one time, she tamed and fed many of the squirrels that came into the backyard.  One squirrel, who was missing it’s teeth and starving, was fed after she shelled and crushed the peanuts.  She was also an avid birdwatcher, although, since she was a night owl, she was never known to be up when they started singing in the morning.

Grateful for having shared her life is her husband of 66 years, Lewis; her sisters Marlene Colvin of Ethan, Sheryl (Lonnie) Hartman of Mitchell, her brother Dave Hewitt of Brookings, and her Aunt LaDonna Christensen of Madison.  Also, her children Wally of Studio City, CA, Peggy (Jeff) Warkenthien, and Bonnie (Roger) Haack both of Sioux Falls.  Also, her eleven grandchildren Lacey (Andrew) Jackson, Zach Venus, Molly Breuer, Sara (John) Jones, Taylor Brobjorg, Joey (Mychaela) Brobjorg, John Brobjorg, Adrianna (Yaovi Kpoga) Haack, Julia Haack, Ashley (Drew) Van Voorhis, and Jared (Mistin) Warkenthien. She especially adored her 8 great grandchildren Devin, Elliott and Natalie Jackson, Claire Jones, Torin and Teslyn Vanvoorhis, Caden Brobjorg, and Azariah Kpoga.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ted and Marcella Hewitt, a baby brother, her brother-in-law Bun Colvin, her mother and father in law Joe and Hazel Wingert, and a great grandson Braxton Brobjorg.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent in her name to the Salvation Army or McCrossan Boys Ranch.  The family would like to extend sincere appreciation for the attentive and compassionate care she received in her last days by Sanford Hospital and Ava’s Hospice House.

Funeral services will take place at Heritage Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Family will be present at 9:30 a.m. for visitation before the service.  Barb's family invites you to join them for lunch before burial in Mitchell, SD.