Lloyd Peter Hejna

Lloyd Peter Hejna, age 78, of Utica, South Dakota, died unexpectedly on Thursday, December 26, 2019 at his home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, South Dakota, with Reverend Anthony Urban officiating. Burial will be in St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Tabor. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor with a vigil service at 7:00 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton. Pallbearers are Andrew Hejna, Mark Hejna, Daniel Hejna, Paul Hejna, Mike Slama, and Mike Schmidt. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Lloyd Peter Hejna was born March 21, 1941, on the family farm near Janousek, South Dakota to Emil and Helen (Kralicek) Hejna. He attended Peterka School and Tabor High School. After he finished school he began farming with his father and brother on the family farm, which he continued to farm his entire lifetime. Lloyd married the love of his life, Marilyn Schmidt, at Immaculate Conceptions Catholic Church in St. Helena, Nebraska and were blessed with two daughters. He was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor. He loved to garden, especially tomato plants and ate tomatoes year round. His favorite hobby was attending any type of auction sale. He loved to collect antiques and any cheap bargain. He loved all the “Old Red” IHC tractors. He also loved to cruise the roads and check out the crops, often stopping and having a chat with neighbors and friends. Those who will cherish his memory include his lifelong and caring wife of 54 years, Marilyn Hejna of Utica, South Dakota; two daughters: Cynthia Hejna (Michael Houle) and Christine Hejna all of Las Vegas, Nevada; three grandchildren: Gracie Ann Houle, Lilly Felice Houle and Cade Alek Daniels-Hejna; sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Slama of Tabor, South Dakota; three brothers: Kenneth (Agnes) Hejna of Tabor; Larry Hejna of Las Vegas, and Robert (Kathy) Hejna of Tabor; brothers and sisters-in-law: Darrold (Jean) Schmidt of South Sioux City, Nebraska; Rodney Schmidt of St. Helena, Nebraska; Arlynn (Dorothy) Schmidt of Elk Point, South Dakota and Marvin “Butch” (Marlene) Schmidt of Fordyce, Nebraska; and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Helen Hejna; father and mother-in-law, Raymond and Felicitas Schmidt; three brothers: Emil, Stephen and Clarence Hejna; brother-in-law, Laddie Slama; and three sisters-in-law: Sharon Schmidt, Lila Hejna and Donna Hejna.