HILDA (DeGROOT) SETTJE

(May 26, 1924 - January 12, 2014)    

Hilda passed away Sunday, January 12, 2014, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Funeral services were Saturday, January 18, 2014 at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Springfield. Burial was in the Springfield Cemetery, rural Springfield.

Hilda Hannah (DeGroot) Settje was born May 26, 1924, in Glidden, Iowa, to John and Alma (Bush) DeGroot. Shortly after her dad passed away, her mother and she moved to Decorah where she graduated from Decorah High School in 1942. She met HAROLD SETTJE ‘47 when she was a senior in high school. Hilda married her husband of 59 years, Harold Victor Settje, Sr., when he came back on furlough from the Marines on December 24, 1943. They were married in a double wedding with Harold’s brother Edward and Vidella at Harold’s parents house in Corona, S.D.

They moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., where Harold was stationed. In Santa Barbara, she gave birth to their first son Harold V. Settje, Jr. on November 3, 1944. In 1945, Harold was discharged and they moved back to Decorah. She took care of Vic while Harold finished school at Luther College. In 1947, they moved to Revillo, where Hilda was a stay-at-home-mom and had their second son, Terris Steven, in Ortonville, Minn., on November 6, 1947. At the end of 1947, they moved to Waubay where Harold coached until 1948. In 1951, they moved to Veblen until 1957 where Harold was Superintendent. In 1957, they moved to Scotland, S.D. In 1959, she graduated with her two-year teaching degree from Dakota Wesleyan and in 1963 she got her bachelor’s degree from Southern State College, Springfield.

She substitute taught in Scotland. In 1967, she taught in Olivet, S.D. In 1967, Hilda got a job at USD/S in Springfield and progressed to be Dean of Women, until the closing of the college in 1984. She had earned her Master’s Degree by 1970 from USD-Vermillion. In the fall of 1984, she was hired as administrator of Saint Mary’s school in Springfield until her retirement in 1986.

Hilda and Harold traveled until 2002, when Harold was diagnosed with cancer and he passed away May 27, 2003. In 2005, Hilda embarked on a trip to Alaska with her family members. In 2010, she moved from her home to the Springfield Assisted Living Center, where she made her home until her passing at Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, S.D., on January 12, 2014 at the age of 89 years, 7 months, and 17 days.

During her life, she enjoyed fishing, looking for wildlife, boating, camping, gardening, driving around the country and loved sports. Also Hilda loved spending time with friends and family having a kool-aid.

Hilda is survived by her son, Harold V. Settje Jr. (Pamela), Scotland, S.D., and their family: Victor Harold and Fancy Lermeny Settje and their son Lyken of Scotland; Fred Settje, John Settje, and Nickolas Settje, all of Scotland, S.D.; son, Terris Steven Settje of Corona, S.D., and his family: Andrea (Cory) Byng and their son Lucas of Green Bay, Wis.; Shari Settje Duffy, Honolulu, Hawaii, and her daughters, Hannah and Ava Duffy of Carthage, Ill.; Lauri Settje of Rawlins, Wyo., and family: Andrew Koski of Spearfish, S.D., Madelynn Kulmus, Aries and Iiyanna Snell of Rawlins, Wyo.; Terris Steven and Jody Sykora Settje, Jr. and son Asher Sykora of Harriburg, S.D.; sisters-in-law: Sallie Settje, Corona, S.D.; Ester DiLeo, East New Market, Md.; Margie Johnson, Fargo, N.D.; Shirley Molini, Norfolk, Neb.; Ingrid Sherman, Burbank Wash.;  two very dear special friends, Mary Halsey and Alice Petrik, both of Springfield; and many cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

Hilda was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, parents, parents-in-law, Fred and Antonia Settje, brother Reinhard DeGroot, grandson, Harold Victor Settje III in 1984, brothers and sisters-in-law: Laurence (Winifred) Settje,Marvin Settje, Elton (Margie) Settje, Edward (Vidella) Settje, Fred Settje, Violet Settje,Victor Settje, Joe DiLeo, Gordon Johnson, John Molini and some nieces and nephews.