Wanda Mae "Tesch" Lightfield

It is with heavy hearts that we share the sorrow of Wanda Lightfield's passing. She was from Waubay, SD and joined her Lord on her 85th birthday, Friday, August 26, 2022.  Though she will be missed, her loved one are grateful that she passed peacefully, surrounded by her family."   

Her services will be at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Waubay 12 pm, May 27, 2023 and will be livestreamed on Our Savior's Lutheran Church Waubay Facebook Page. Visitation will be prior to the service, 10am-12pm at the church. Inurnment of Wanda and Bill will follow services at Lakewood Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Waubay Community Center in Waubay.

Wanda Mae (Tesch) Lightfield was born on August 26, 1937, to Arthur H. and Anna Mae (Cook) Tesch in Watertown, SD. Wanda graduated from Watertown High School in 1955. Wanda married the love of her life, William R. “Bill” Lightfield on September 8, 1957, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. They shared a loving marriage of over 64 years and were blessed with 6 children. They were faithful members of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Waubay, SD

Early on, Bill and Wanda lived in Deadwood, Brookings, and Howard before moving to Waubay to raise their family. In 1960, Wanda earned her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from South Dakota State University. She taught Home Economic and college prep science at Waubay High School while taking great pride in the success of Lightfield’s Standard Oil Station on Highway 12. She continued her training and was awarded a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1972. She achieved this while raising their family of 6 children with Bill. Over the years she nurtured many students with her insightful teaching methods at Enemy Swim Day School, and schools in Waubay, SD; Florence, SD; Tilden, NE; Waterloo, IA; and Waverly, IA. Wanda took joy in contributing to her community by founding and leading the Wonder Worker’s 4-H club. One of the highest honors of Wanda’s life was in 1997 when she was commissioned as an Associate in Ministry (AIM) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This was while she was principal of St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Waverly, IA starting 1989. Wanda retired from St. Paul’s School and in 2010 she and Bill returned to the home they built in Waubay. As a Christian, educator, counselor, principal and leader, Wanda positively influenced thousands of students, children and their families. With Bill at her side, they strove to be good stewards of their faith and to share their many God given talents.

Wanda had a deep love for and devotion to her family. She loved baking and cooking family recipes to the delight of all at the table. Bill said, “she could make saw dust taste good.”  Her beloved grandkids and great grandkids looked forward to receiving their homemade gifts for birthdays and Christmas. She inspired them to work hard and play hard. Being raised on a farm as the oldest daughter of a family with 5 girls, she was taught that she could do anything a man could do. She loved a challenge and found joy in a job well done, especially on a tight budget. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t do. Each school break, she would challenge herself to learn a new skill or craft. Then at Christmas time, her newfound talent would be shared as gifts for each of the family. Faith was a cornerstone of Bill and Wanda’s marriage.  They taught their children by example and were active participants in all their church communities. She also loved sewing, gardening, canning, building willow furniture with Bill, and teaching family traditions to the next generation of kids. Bill and Wanda’s children like to say, “They’re a tough act to follow!”  Most of all, she loved her husband Bill and always felt blessed to be his wife and mother of their children.

Her legacy will continue, and she will be forever cherished by her daughter-in-law Denise K. (Tim) Lightfield of Waubay, SD, children Yvonne N. (Mike) Morris of Des Moines, IA, Sybil A. Lightfield of Carson, ND, Adam J. (Teresa) Lightfield of Conifer, CO, Wannita M. Lightfield of Waubay, SD, and Edward A. Lightfield of Minneapolis, MN, sisters Lou Ann (Howard) Paulson, Lois (Ronald) Greenfield, Jane (Jim) Green, Marie (Cecil) Munson; ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, William R. “Bill” Lightfield on February 15, 2022, son Tim R. Lightfield, and daughter-in-law Teresa L. (Hasche) Lightfield.