Madeline H. DEVINE

DEVINE, Madeline H.

Age 81, of Sioux Falls, S.D., passed away on Thursday, July 1, 2010, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

Madeline was born December 30, 1928, in Wakonda, S.D., to Phillip and Nell (Hart) Devine. She grew up on the homestead farm, attended Wakonda Public School and graduated from Mount Marty High School in 1946. She continued her education at Mount Marty College and became an elementary school teacher. Her first teaching assignment was at Ireland country school rural Wakonda. After several years teaching in South Dakota, she was recruited by the California to ''go west'' and help their teaching shortage. Madeline taught in Bakersfield and Sacramento, Calif. She retired from the Sacramento Schools in 1996.

Madeline was very involved with her parish and was instrumental in beginning ''Handicapables'', which provided needed transportation to Mass and parish activities for handicapped parishioners. She provided beautiful crafts for annual parish fundraisers. Madeline loved playing bridge, golf, gambling, Notre Dame football and spending time with family.

Madeline was preceded in death by her parents Phil and Nell, and two brothers Thomas and Phillip Jr. She is survived by three sisters, Mary Ellen Powell of Sioux Falls and Veronica Heimes and Monica Ballard, both of Vermillion. They and her many nieces and nephews will miss her quick retorts and her love of fun and laughter.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. on Monday, July 5, at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Wakonda with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in the church. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Patrick's Cemetery Fund. Online condolences and obituary:
hansenfuneralhome.com.