Charlotte Van Laecken, age 96, of Mitchell, SD [formerly of Letcher, SD] died Thursday, February 9, 2017, at Avera Bormann Manor in Parkston, SD.  Funeral services will be 11 AM, Monday, February 13, 2017, at the Letcher Community Church in Letcher, SD, with burial at West Lawn Cemetery, Letcher, SD.  Visitation will be from 6 PM to 8 PM , Sunday, February 12, 2017, at the Will Funeral Chapel, with a prayer service beginning at 7 PM.

Charlotte Van Laecken, daughter of Wyman and Donna [Lybarger] Phinney, was born August 12, 1920, in Alpena, SD.  Charlotte grew up on a farm southwest of Huron, SD.  She attended country school and attended high school in Huron for two years and Alpena for two years, where she graduated.

Charlotte's mother died in 1934, so she stayed home with her father, brothers, and sisters while working in homes in Huron.  Charlotte was united in marriage with Albert Van Laecken on October, 24, 1942, in Loomis, SD.  The couple lived on a farm by Letcher and moved into Letcher in 1944.  Charlotte worked several years at Stach's Grocery in Letcher, and worked at Randalls, Bennett's, and Herter's in Mitchell, SD.  She also worked as a janitor at the Letcher Auditorium.  She also enjoyed doing painting jobs, with her husband, Al, for several years.  No painting job was too big for her to tackle.

She was a member of the Letcher Community Church and helped with church bazaars.  Charlotte was also a member of the Letcher Senior Citizens and the Letcher Auxiliary.  In her younger years she enjoyed ceramics, raising flowers and plants, especially African violets.   Charlotte moved to Mitchell in 1998 and was a Watkins, Fuller Brush, and Stanley distributor.

Grateful for having shared her life are her seven children, Ronnie [Rosemary]  Van Laecken, Watertown, SD,  Donna Lepke, Mitchell, SD,  Dennis [Cindy] Van Laecken, Phoenix, AZ,  Robbie [Joanne] Van Laecken, Parkston SD,  Kathy [Edwin] Irving,  Huron, SD,  Patrick Van Laecken, Mitchell, SD and Penny  Bjerrum, Sioux Falls,  SD.  Charlotte has 17 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren, and one sister, Betty Holforty, Mitchell, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Albert Van Laecken, two brothers, Keith and Lyle Phinney and one sister, Darlene Tastad.  Also preceding her in death were two twin brothers, in infancy, and two son-in-laws, Al Bjerrum, and Dick Lepke, and great granddaughter, Anna Lepke.