Diane Cora Halstenson, age 75, of Sioux Falls passed away on Wednesday February 8, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. Funeral Services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 13, 2023 at St. John American Lutheran Church, 1912 West 13th Street, Sioux Falls, SD. Interment will be in the Walnut Grove Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester, MN (https://gift-of-life.org/).
Diane was born October 9, 1947 in Tracy, MN to Arthur and Alice (Andersen) Maas. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Johnsonville Township. After a year of country school, Diane attended and graduated from Walnut Grove public school. She attended Mankato State University for one year. Diane then worked various positions at the University of Minnesota in the personnel office, heart hospital, and veterinary clinic.
On September 7, 1968 she married Doug Halstenson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Johnsonville Township. They made their home in rural Walnut Grove, where they farmed for 30 years. Together they raised three children. In the early 1990s, Diane started working at Citizen’s State Bank in the insurance agency. In 1999, she received a kidney transplant from her sister Judy (Maas) Micke after a decade of battling kidney disease. Doug and Diane relocated to Sioux Falls in 2004, where she worked for The Hartford Insurance Livestock Division. She retired in 2013.
Diane was an active member of English Lutheran Church of Walnut Grove, including Alma Circle, supporting Sunday School as a teacher and superintendent, and various other roles. She also participated in the Walnut Grove Economic Development Authority, Micawber Club, Holly Township Birthday Club, and attended her children’s activities including sports, music, theater, and 4-H. Diane loved cooking and baking for any occasion and later in life became an avid quilter and Minnesota Twins fan.
Diane is survived by her husband Doug of 54 years; Mother: Alice (Andersen) Maas of Tracy, MN; Aunt and Godmother: Cora (Andersen) Steffen of Alpine, CA; children: Jennifer (Jerry) Smit of George, IA, Jolene (Tammy Chick) Halstenson of Montesano, WA, and Jacob (Gentle) Halstenson of Henderson, MN; grandchildren: Chloe Smit, Gavin Smit, Libby Arnez, and Noah Arnez; siblings: Ronald (Judy) Maas of Whittier, CA, Judy (Thomas) Micke of Delano, MN, and Bruce (Maydra) Maas of Walnut Grove, MN; sisters-in-law: Fran (Rich) Rieger of Currie, MN, and Judy (Dallas) Herrick of Bloomington, MN; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her father, Arthur Maas.
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