Sue Lynn Horstmeyer

Sue Lynn Horstmeyer, 57, of Sioux Falls and formerly of Dell Rapids and Baltic, died peacefully on Monday, December 1, 2008, at Sanford USD Medical Center after an inspirational 16-month battle with brain cancer.

Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 5, 2008, at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation with the family present will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, with a time of sharing at 7:00 p.m., all at the church. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Sioux Falls.

Sue was born October 25, 1951 in Mitchell, South Dakota to parents Luther Ward and Evelyn Maxine (Mohling) Miller. She grew up in White Lake and graduated from White Lake High School in 1969 and from Northern State College in August 1973. On July 28, 1973 she married the love of her life, Roger Lee Horstmeyer, just home from four years of service in the U.S. Navy. Sue received her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders in Vermillion in August 1974. Her first job was as coordinator of the South East Cooperative, where she also worked part-time with students in Springfield, Tabor and Avon. Roger and Sue lived in Springfield from 1974 to 1978, with their first child, Robin Sue, born in 1976. From there they moved to Baltic where Brook was born in 1978, and Katie in 1982. Sue worked part-time as a speech pathologist with the Baltic, Tri-Valley, and Garretson schools, and continued to work three days a week until Katie was five. In 1985 they moved to Dell Rapids, where she worked for the next twenty-one years. In 2001 Sue also began working with the State of South Dakota Birth to Three Program, doing home visits with speech/language-delayed children. She loved each and every child she worked with. In May 2007, Sue retired from teaching in Dell Rapids. She continued her passionate work with children in the Birth to Three Program until she was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer on August 4, 2007.

One of Sue’s many passions was the “Christmas for Our Kids” program that she founded in Dell Rapids and worked diligently to organize for 18 years. She was a past Lion’s Club member, current member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and recipient of the 2004 Tradition of Caring Jefferson Award as well as numerous other teaching awards. Sue entertained many playing her accordion or tap-dancing at various school and community events.

Sue’s ultimate love here on earth was her family and friends, and her life was a beautiful testament to the faith and trust she placed in her loving Savior. She found great joy in the simple pleasures of life, including dancing with Roger around the wood floors of their Sioux Falls home, playing pinochle and traveling with numerous card clubs, and going for coffee with her “Bunco Babes.” Her infectious smile, vibrant spirit, and genuine concern for others will live on in all who knew her, as she rests peacefully with her Lord and Master now.

Sue was loved and cherished by her husband, Roger, Sioux Falls; her children, Robin and her husband Tom Weiner and her dear grandsons, Carson and Peyton, Sioux Falls; Brook Horstmeyer and his wife Darcie, Brandon; Katie Horstmeyer and her fiancée Michael Davis, Dell Rapids; her mother, Evelyn Miller, Sioux Falls; her brother, Greg Miller and his wife Nannette and nephews, Geoff and Zach, Kansas City; her sister, Laura Bolin and niece, Allison, Rowlette, Texas; she is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Sue’s special dog, Chico, also survives her. Sue was preceded in death by her father, Luther (Barney) Miller in April 2008, her grandparents, Grover & Audrey Miller and Fred and Mathilda Mohling and many aunts and uncles.

Sue requested that memorials be directed to the Living Word Free Lutheran Church Building Fund.