Alvina "Vi" Ann Van Wyhe

Alvina Vi Van Wyhe, age 85 of Hills, MN died Sunday, May 9, 2010 at the Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, SD. A memorial service will be 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 13th at the United Methodist Church in Luverne, MN, with Pastor Donn Rakow officiating. Private family burial will take place prior to the service at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 12th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills. Alvina Vi Ann (Warner) Van Wyhe was born on May 14, 1924, the daughter of Herman and Lena (Kellenberger) Warner on the family farm near Larchwood, IA. She graduated from Lester High School in 1941 and received a teaching certificate from Northern Iowa Teaching College in Cedar Falls, IA. On August 20, 1944 she was united in marriage to Clifford Van Wyhe at the Larchwood Community Church in Larchwood, IA. They lived in Lester and then in 1948 moved to Steen, MN where they farmed and raised their family. They built a home north of Hills in 1980 where they resided for 28 years. Vi became a resident of Dow Rummel Village in December, 2008. Cliff and Vi were blessed to have traveled the world together of which Switzerland was her favorite. Vi loved her role of wife, mother, grandmother and teacher. She taught country school and later at the Lester and Hills-Beaver Creek public schools. She was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Steen, MN and the United Methodist Church in Luverne, MN circle groups and the Steen Extension Club. She loved sports, especially basketball and traveled the country with Cliff attending the games. She was known far and wide for her love of wearing gold shoes. Vi enjoyed calling people and sending cards to friends and family. She especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Grateful for having shared her life are three children; Steven (Marilyn) Van Wyhe of Steen, MN, Thomas (Crystal) Van Wyhe and Lexia (Ron) DeWit, both of Sioux Falls, SD; seven grandchildren, Dr. Heather Van Wyhe of Owasso, OK, Amber (Travis) Arends of Anaconda, MT, Justin Van Wyhe of Steen, MN, Teri (Matt) Mercer of Omaha, NE, Matthew Van Wyhe of Sioux Falls, SD and Lindsey and Ashley DeWit of Sioux Falls, SD; two great-grandchildren, Ella Van Wyhe and Mason Mercer; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years; her parents; a sister, Benola Pettengill; a brother, Mervin Warner; and her daughter-in-law, Patricia Van Wyhe. Memorials may be directed to Luverne United Methodist Church or the Patricia K. Van Wyhe Memorial Endowment Fund of the Sanford Health Foundation.