Howard J. Sigaty

Self written by Howard James Sigaty

Howard James Sigaty passed away on Dec. 3, 2025 at the age of 78 after a long battle with leukemia and heart disease. A memorial service will be held for Howard at 11:00am on Wednesday December 10, 2025 at St Thomas More Catholic Church. With a visitation take place prior from 10-11am.

Howard was born in Brittion, SD on October 27, 1947 to Lambert Sigaty and Charlotte (Lass) Sigaty. He was raised on a farm by Roy Lake near Lake City, SD. Howard attended Lake City Elementary School and Britton High School. While growing up, he enjoyed fishing, playing baseball and basketball. He was a 4-H member and achieved many awards with his Registered Shorthorn Cattle at the state fair.

After graduating from high school in 1965, Howard attended South Dakota State University and graduated in 1969 with a BS in Animal Science. After graduation he enlisted in the South Dakota National Guard and served 6 years with the Britton unit. During this time, Howard fell in love with LaVae Bessler of Veblen and they were married on September 5, 1970.

Howard and LaVae had two children, Tamatha Jo and James Lambert.

After moving several times, they finally settled down in Brookings, SD in 1979, where he lived until his passing. While working for 3M in Brookings, Howard received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and was an engineer at 3M for 26 years before retiring in 2008.

Howard was an avid Jackrabbit fan and would not miss a football or basketball game for anything. He followed the Jacks all over the country to see them play from Springfield, Mass., to Lubbock, Texas, to Las Vegas, to Tulsa, Okla., and many other places. He was also a member of the Back of the Bus group of Jacks fans that chartered buses to the away games. He loved his Jacks and loved to play basketball as well. Howard played on a pickup team at many different places around Brookings for 35 years. He finally had to stop playing in 2020 at the age of 73 due to health issues. He also liked to play pool with his friends at Meadow Green. In his younger days Howard loved to waterski. He, La Vae and his children would waterski two or three times a week with La Ve driving the boat and Howard, James or Tammy skiing behind. He could do it all from slalom, to trick skis to barefoot skiing.

He will always be remembered by his family for his dry sense of humor. However, most of all, Howard loved his family. His wife, children and grandchildren were number one in his life. His dying wish is that he be remembered as "A Man Who Loved and Was Loved"

Howard is preceded in death by his parents, Lambert and Charlotte Sigaty; his in-laws, Keith and Lorretta Bessler; his brother-in-law's, John Migyanko, Bob Holbert, and Dan Bessler

He is survived by his wife, LaVae. Two children; Tammy Jo (Andy) Lambert of Sioux Falls, SD and James Sigaty of Sioux Falls, SD. Five grandchildren; Mariah (Tyler) Fairchild, Isaiah Stensgaard, Piper Sigaty, Luke Sigaty and Faith Sigaty. One brother, Vincent (Bonnie) Sigaty of Lake City, SD; two sisters Marilyn Holbert of Sioux Falls and Beverly Migyanko of Sioux Falls, SD.