Madeline Geneva (Quissell) Hatlestad, 102 years, 6 months, and 19 days old, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, November 29, 2024, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. A memorial visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 8, 2025, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls. Graveside services will be 9:00 a.m., Friday, May 9, 2025, at the Norway Lutheran Cemetery in rural Garretson. Memorial services will follow at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 9 at East Side Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.
An online guestbook and link to view the service are available at www.georgeboom.com
Madeline Geneva Quissell Hatlestad was born May 10, 1922 at her home in Moody County, South Dakota. She gently slipped away from her earthly home with loving family at her side on November 29, 2024.
Madeline attended Quissell School District #20 in Moody County, South Dakota and then attended Jasper Minnesota High School. She completed three years at University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After earning her degree in Nursing, she worked two years at Ashton Memorial Hospital in Pipestone, Minn.
On March 28, 1945, she married Paul Olin Hatlestad and moved with him to the Hatlestad family farm at Garretson, S.D. where they raised five children. In her community, she served many years on the Edison Township Election Board and was involved in the Ladies Aid of Norway Lutheran and later, Zion Lutheran Church.
After 16 years on the farm, she returned to her nursing career and worked 29 years at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls in the Maternal Child Care Dept. Upon her retirement, she continued to serve the hospital as a McKennan Hospital Ambassador where she attended fundraising and public relations events proudly wearing her evergreen Ambassador blazer. In addition, she served as the secretary on the Garretson Nursing Home Board for 10 years.
While many knew her for her community and nursing service, she was dedicated to her family. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. She took delight in spending time with her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and extended family. On many occasions, she shared her nursing expertise with family and spent many hours at the bedside caring for loved ones.
As a homemaker, she was a talented seamstress who also enjoyed cooking, gardening, and canning. Surprise guests were amazed and never disappointed with the meals she created at a moment’s notice.
In 2000, she and Paul moved to Sioux Falls to a condominium where they lived for 15 years before moving to Dow Rummel due to Paul’s failing health.
Madeline’s parents were John J Quissell and Ingeborg K Shefte Quissell, both of whom were immigrants from Valdres, Norway. Being a first generation Norwegian American, she was proud of her heritage and she was able to travel to Norway on three occasions. Many Norwegian traditions and recipes were present for special occasions and holidays.
She is survived by her children, Cheryl (Jerry) Larson, Brandon, SD, Karen Fernengel, Leavenworth, KS, David Hatlestad, Savage, Minn, and Peter (Brenda) Hatlestad, Garretson, SD; daughter-in-law, Sharyl Hatlestad of Garretson; along with 10 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandson.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Paul; her son, Steven; son-in-law, Frederick; and her siblings and their spouses, Julian and Lucille Quissell, Berniece and Morris Lerdal, Curtis and Elaine Quissell, and Avis and Dean Aanestad; along with brothers and sisters-in-law, Carolyn and Bud Wooten and Merlin and Evelyn Hatlestad.
