Lynette Ruth Waltner

Lynette Waltner, 90, of Long Beach, California, formerly of Scotland, SD passed away Sunday, May 18, 2025. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with a Funeral Mass beginning at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 12, 2025 at St. George Catholic Church in Scotland. Burial will be at St. George Catholic Cemetery, Scotland.

Lynette Ruth Waltner, 90, of Long Beach CA, formerly of Scotland, SD passed away suddenly on May 18, 2025 in the hospital in Long Beach, California. Born on 5-5-1935 she always said five was her lucky number and loved Cinco de Mayo. Her entire family spent the week prior with Lynette, celebrating her 90th birthday. They were so fortunate to spend that time with her. Lynette was a remarkable person who led a wonderful life. She navigated the world with a suitcase full of dreams, a heart full of music, and a spirit that danced to the rhythm of change. She was never at a loss for words and wasn’t afraid to tell you exactly what she was thinking.

Lynette attended elementary school in Vodnany, SD and later Scotland, SD when the family moved into town, graduating from Scotland High School in 1953. Lynette loved music and was often the high school director’s assistant in leading the Scotland High School band. She studied and graduated with a music degree from USD. After graduating, Lynette taught music in Iowa for two years. Iowa was one of the only states that allowed organized girls’ sports at the time and Lynette took on the role of life-long advocate for participation in girls’ sports while coaching and teaching volleyball and basketball. After her two years in Iowa, Lynette took another risk and moved to Venezuela to teach children of oil field workers, and with her mother’s music from Scotland, put on their very first Christmas program.

She was not afraid to take risks, and when she saw the cute red car Liz Taylor drove in the movie “Butterfly Eight” she made up her mind that she wanted one – a Sunbeam Alpine! She took off for London and found the dealership but had to stay in the foreign area for a week waiting for the car to be shipped. She took advantage of this time by staying with a Bohemian family and becoming immersed in the culture. Lynette carried this experience with her for her whole life. This is an example of many wonderful opportunities Lynette grabbed onto throughout her life.

After Venezuela, she moved to California where she taught physical education and taught golf at Bellflower High School. Always one to see a good investment, she got a tip on a house going up for auction in Long Beach and swiped it up, living in that house on and off for the next 50 years. She lived by the water with her boat in the marina for many fulfilling years, hosting friends and family alike. She loved to share her adventures with anyone who would listen.

Once retired, Lynette continued to take advantage of her ability to travel and made many wonderful trips, experiencing life, hitting beautiful wonders of the world, islands and landscapes. She was grateful for her wonderful group of friends whom she traveled with extensively. She loved the outdoors and took many camping trips where fishing was always on the agenda, a sport she loved doing with her dad growing up around Scotland at Lake Henry.

And lets not forget her love of music. Having graduated with a music degree, Lynette took joy in leading the band starting back in high school where the band teacher put her in charge at games, and later in college where she enjoyed participating in Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and university events during her time there.

Lynette is preceded in death by her parents, Magaret (Kocourek) and Gilbert Waltner and sister, Marjean (Richard) Barta. Lynette had many wonderful friends who became family who also preceded her in death.

She is survived by her brother-in-law, Richard Barta of Vermillion; nephews, Mike Barta and Brian (Doni) Barta; nieces, Marcia (Mark) Maltaverne and Susan (Rollie) Isaacson; many great-nieces and nephews; lifelong friend, Sandy Becker and her dear friend and last caregiver, Mary Martinez.