WESSINGTON — Myrtle “Myrt” (Horsley) Van Asperen, 90, of Wessington, died Monday, July 25, 2022 at Country View Estates, Huron, surrounded by her children.
A Celebration of Life for Myrt will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, at the First Presbyterian Church in Wessington.
A private family and extended family interment will be prior to the public Celebration of Life at the Wessington Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the First Presbyterian Church, Wessington, with family present. A Time of Sharing and Prayer Service will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday evening at the church.
Myrtle “Myrt” Arline Horsley was born June 4, 1932, to Guy and Ettie Eldora (Manor) Horsley at home in rural Virgil, South Dakota. She was baptized as a young child. At the age of 2, Myrt moved with her family to a farm southwest of Wessington. She attended McNeil country school through eighth grade. As was customary in her family, she stayed home one year after completing eighth grade and before beginning high school to help on the family farm. Upon entering high school, Myrt moved to Wessington, lived in a girl’s dormitory, and worked at the local restaurant to help pay expenses while attending high school. She graduated from Wessington High School in 1951.
On June 24, 1951, Myrt married Henry (Hank) Van Asperen. In 1952, they moved to Cherry Point, North Carolina, where Hank was stationed in the Marine Corps and served during the Korean conflict. They returned to Hulbert Township, Wessington, to ranch and farm, where Myrt was an active partner in the operation. They raised four children. In 1982, they moved to Wessington. Myrt later moved to Country View Estates, Huron, where she has resided for the past year.
Myrt served as a Deacon and Trustee and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wessington. She was a member and also served as secretary and historian of Watson-Krauter American Legion Auxiliary, Post 110. Myrt worked in her early years as a waitress and later with the school lunch program in Wessington for 10 years, as well as working side-by-side with Hank on the family ranch.
She is survived by her four children, Craig (Cheryl) Van Asperen, Wessington, David (Kimery) Van Asperen, Carthage, Debra (Scott) Alexander, Alpena, Vicki (Kirk) Diekhoff, Wessington, grandchildren, Hilary (Brian) Rossow, Camron Van Asperen, Becky (Mike) Krueger, Brian (Julie) Bell, Ryan (Alisha) Bell, Kelly (Phillip) Dugan, Tyler Van Asperen, Whitney Tapken, Megan (Brian) Huizenga, Daniel Alexander, Brett (Tyann) Alexander, Laurel Diekhoff and Aaron Diekhoff; 15 great-grandchildren; one brother, Wayne (Joan) Horsley of Wessington; one sister, Sharon Menning of Farwell, Texas; and brother-in-law, Rennald Stiner of Sioux Falls, and many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry in May, 2013; her parents, Guy and Ettie Eldora Horsley; two brothers, Melvin and Keith Horsley; and eight sisters, Lula Wedge, Alma Plate, Ruth Thomas, Tressie Beck, Bertha Stiner, Mary Horsley, and infant twin sisters.
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