Sally Ann Townsend

Sally Ann Townsend, age 60 of Crofton, Nebraska died suddenly on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wintz Funeral Home in Crofton, Nebraska with the Rev. Amanda Talley officiating.  Burial will be held at a later date.  Visitation will be on Monday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Wintz Funeral Home in Crofton and will continue on Tuesday one hour prior to services.  Face masks and social distancing are required for the visitation and funeral.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Crofton. Pallbearers will be: Keith Townsend, Josh Derickson, Ryan Krull, Tim Starkey, Kailen Hanson, and Keith Townsend Jr Honorary pallbearers: Kason Hanson, Aven Hanson, and Tessa Townsend Sally Ann was born on May 13, 1960 in Albion, Nebraska to Keith John and Marie Elaine (McSharry) Starkey.  She grew up in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska and received her GED in Norfolk.  She worked at a Hog Confinement around the Schuyler area. Sally also worked as a waitress at the Bowling Alley in Schuyler.  She lived in Texas for a few years then moved to Norfolk where she waitressed at the Double K restaurant as well as working for Dale Electronics (Vishay).  Sally also did sterile processing at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, worked at the Norfolk Daily News as the circulation manager.  Sally then moved to McCalister, Oklahoma working as circulation manager for the paper.  Sally moved to Fremont and worked for the Fremont Tribune and also at Gordmans’s.  She moved back to Norfolk and worked at Walgreens.  Sally became disabled but continued to work for Walgreen’s. Sally moved to Yankton, SD in 2016 to be closer to her daughter and her grandchildren while providing daycare for her daughter and her three children.  Sally moved to Crofton, NE around 2018 and worked for the Ponca Smoke Shop.  Sally loved to go to her grandchildren’s activities and family was extremely important to her. Sally made sure while at the activities for her grandchildren that they and everyone else knew she was there from her excitement on the sidelines. Sally loved to visit with people and enjoyed spending time with all her family and friends. Sally loved life and made sure that everyone around her was taken care of, she would drop everything for someone in need. She was a vibrant woman that had a distinctive laugh and was teased that she cackled. Sally was famous for her photography skills or the lack there of. She was a fighter and never gave up in the many difficult health issues that plagued her. She was so extremely proud of her children and grandchildren they were the light of her life. She will be missed by many and she will continue to be loved by a lot. Sally is survived by her daughter Michelle Hanson and significant other Josh Derickson of St. Helena, NE; son Keith (Angela) Townsend of McLouth, KS; five grandchildren, Kailen Hanson, Keith Townsend Jr., Kason Hanson, Aven Hanson, Tessa Townsend; eight siblings and spouses Mary Kay Flessner of Lincoln, NE, Joan Starkey of Lincoln, NE, Chuck (Bonnie) Starkey of Norfolk, Connie (Julian “Mac”) Whitaker of Corona Del Mar, CA, Jerry (Sharon) Starkey of Grand Island, NE, Tim (Gladys) Starkey of North Bend, NE, Jan Starkey, Jill (Randy) Schreck of Omaha, NE; and many nieces and nephews. Sally was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Larry Starkey, and nephew Kevin Starkey.