Ann Pies

Ann Pies, 64, of Ortley, passed away Wednesday, December 26, 2023, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown.

A Celebration of Ann's life will be 3:00 pm Saturday, December 30, 2023, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Waubay and will be livestreamed via our Facebook page. Pastor Marion Grimes will officiate. Inurnment will be at Lakewood Cemetery near Waubay at a later date.

Ann was born August 18, 1959 to Rev. Howard Stockman and Lorraine (Larsen) Bergan in Williston, ND.  They, along with Ann’s siblings Kay and Allan, lived in Williston and Alamo, ND, Roseville, MN, Forks and Port Angeles, WA, before settling in Waubay, SD in 1974.

She met Delwin Pies on a blind date on her 15^th birthday to the movie theatre; they saw the movie Billy Jack. They have been together ever since. They married on June 25^th, 1977 and to this marriage they were blessed with four children, Leilani Ann, Dean Robert, Brienne Ali, and Jerrett Charles.

Ann graduated from Waubay High School at the age of 16.  She worked at Dakotah in Webster and on construction sites with Delwin. She then attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD where she graduated with her Associates Degree in Nursing in 1979.  She started as a school nurse at Waubay.  Then she joined St. Anne’s Hospital in Watertown, SD, staying with them when they merged with the other local hospital into Prairie Lakes Healthcare System where she spent the rest of her career. Most of the years were with PLHS Home Care and Hospice serving a good portion of the northeast section of the state. She touched so many lives in her career, caring for her patients and their families with a gentle spirit and the warmest of hearts. She retired in 2018.

In 1979, Delwin and Ann bought their home place north of Ortley where they built up their farm and family.  Besides working, Ann managed the house and kids, sewing clothes, helping with school projects, creating crafts, cooking and baking amazing meals and treats. In her retirement years, she fully enjoyed every second she could fit in with her grandbabies. 

Ann is survived by her loving husband Delwin; daughter Leilani and Shad Kruger with their children Tahliya, Bode, and Kenzie; son Dean and Kara Pies with their children Linnea and Cailin; daughter Brienne and Isaiah Soldier with children Dayzon, Maizy, and Izley; and son Jerrett and Shannon Pies with their children Bridger and Sage; and her siblings Kay and Allan.

She is preceded in death by both parents, step-parents Vicky Stockman and Tom Bergan, and parents-in-law Rudolph and Evelyn Pies.

Ann, you knew you were going to be missed but you couldn’t have imagined how much.  When your heart stopped, all of our hearts broke.

Ann’s family will be designating any monetary gifts to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Waubay’s memorial fund in her memory.