Marie Theresa Deyonge

Marie Theresa DeYonge, age 79, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Friday, February 14, 2025, at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House surrounded by her family.

A private memorial service will be held at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton, South Dakota.

Marie Theresa DeYonge was born October 18, 1945 in Newport News, Virginia, to Frank and Martha (Foster) Walsh. She grew up in Onida, South Dakota and Pierre, South Dakota graduating from Pierre High School in 1963. She married John DeYonge in 1965 and attended Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. They moved various places in South Dakota including Igloo, Rapid City, Pickstown and finally settled in Yankton where she graduated from Mount Marty College with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. She worked as a social worker for the South Dakota Human Services Center in Yankton for many years and then as the director for Big Friend/Little Friend and the Youth Center for United Way until retiring in 1990.

Marie was a funny, imaginative, spirited woman who was well loved by family and friends. She always had a cup of coffee to share and time for a visit. She loved to play on her computer, crochet and read. She was a lifelong member of the community library and volunteered many years to the Riverboat Days Rodeo. She loved her family and friends above all else and will be greatly missed. 

Survivors include her two children: John (Vickie) DeYonge of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Julie (Dean Slagle) DeYonge of Yankton; two grandchildren: Hailey (Shane) Sokolosky of Sioux Falls and Sarah DeYonge of Fargo, North Dakota; five sisters: Judy Stout, Johna Walsh, Mary Lou Goehring, Miki (Deene) Dayton and Eileen (Randy) Horn; sister-in-law, Cindi Walsh; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Mike Walsh; brother-in-law, Curt Goehring and sister-in-law, Bonnie Walsh.