Imogene Van Overschelde age 103, died December 2, 2016 at Avera Brady and Rehab in Mitchell, SD. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at the Will Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Shane D. Stevens officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior the services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Butler Cemetery, rural Letcher with military rites.


Imogene was born October 17, 1913 to Emiel and Emerance (DeSmet) Van Overschelde on the family farm near Letcher, SD. After high school she attended Southern State Normal, Springfield, SD and the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO. She began her teaching career teaching rural schools in Sanborn County, SD.

In 1943 Imogene joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp (WAAC) and then the Women's Army Corp (WAC).

She graduated from South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD with a B.S. and M.S. in Home Economics Education. From SDSU, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award and received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Service. The first year she attended SDSU, she was house mother to 20 freshman girls in a resident house.

She taught Home Economics and Biology at Armour High School and Home Economics and supervised student teachers from SDSU at Madison High School. For 25 years, she was State Supervisor of Home Economics in the Division of Vocational and Technical Education. She was on the Board of Advisory Editors for a series of Home Economic cookbooks published by Favorite Recipes Press.

She served on the National Board of Directors for the National Future Homemakers of America (FHA-HERO). She originated the idea for and was instrumental in initiating the South Dakota State University program for School Food Service Certification for school lunch cooks. She received Distinguished Service Awards for State Vocational Association, State Home Economics Association and was designated as State Outstanding Home Economist.

She had held offices in many of the organizations of which she was active member: Delta Kappa Gamma, Honored Women Educators of South Dakota (formerly Annie Talbert Club), Pierre Area Retired Teachers Unit, American Legion Auxiliary, American Legion, Saint Mary's Healthcare Center Auxiliary, South Dakota Home Economics Association, Pierre AARP Chapter. She was an avid reader throughout her life, enjoyed flower gardening at the apartment and traveled worldwide. She was a member of St. Peter and Paul Church in Pierre, SD and former officer of St. Ann's Court and Pierre Catholic Daughters of America. For three years, she had a monthly, "Imogene's Hour" for residents at Mitchell Avera Brady Assisted Living.

Imogene was the youngest of twelve children in the Van Overschelde family.

Grateful for sharing her life are many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and eleven brothers and sisters.