Lil Stauffacher 74, of Sioux Falls passed away Wednesday, July 14th at Avera Dougherty House after her battle with Melanoma and Parkinson’s.
Lil was born, along with her twin brother Frank, on April 26, 1947 in Deadwood, South Dakota the third and fourth children of Harold and Laura Newell. Lil attended Dakota Wesleyan University and earned a BS in Education.
On Dec. 28, 1968, she married Steve Stauffacher. Lil first taught Special Education in Parkston until they moved to Minneapolis. Two children, Aaron and Janice became members of the family during their time in Minneapolis. Lil re-entered the workforce as the kids got older and sold textbooks for Prentice Hall before managing a Hallmark store. The family had a short stint in Urbandale, Iowa before relocating to Brookings in January 1987. Lil returned to teaching in 1989 and taught 5th Grade in Elkton for several years until she and Steve moved to Sioux Falls.
Lil’s favorite past time was spending time with her Grandchildren baking cookies during the Holidays or any other occasion. The grandkids would learn how to properly apply sprinkles to spritz cookies or the art of making and applying frosting to sugar cookies. She was always designing new art and craft projects with her Cricket machine and loved to enlist her grandchildren’s help. Lil’s most notable guilty pleasures were Lucy Bears, stuffed animals, and sweets.
Lil is survived by her children Aaron (Terri) Stauffacher Brookings, Janice (David) Olson Tulsa, OK; six grandchildren, Olivia and her boyfriend Tyler, Ross, Lauren, Melinda and Fiance Kiesen, Evan, and Adam. Siblings, Nancy Newell- Moore, and Frank Newell, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Monday July 19 at 1:30 p.m. at First Methodist Church Sioux Falls. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Deadwood. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Memorials may be directed to the South Dakota Parkinson’s Foundation or American Cancer Society.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
