Funeral services for Della Mae Hatle, age 79, of Bison, SD, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 17, 2016 at the Indian Creek Lutheran Church south of Meadow, SD. Rev. Harold Delbridge and Rev. Tera Lowe will officiate with burial to follow in the Gallaway Cemetery near Meadow, SD.

On May 19, 1937 in Meadow, SD, Dell Oliver was plowing his fields while his expecting wife, Luella, washed dishes. While the morning sun was high, Dell looked up from his tasks and saw a white dish towel hanging on the clothes line, their agreed upon signal that a baby was on the way! Della Mae was born- the first of five children. For Della's first four and a half years of school, she attended Meadow Central School and completed elementary school at Thompson School after moving to her grandfather's ranch. She attended Lemmon High School during her freshman and sophomore years and transferred to Bison for her remaining two years. She graduated a Valedictorian with the Class of '55. Della then went on to pursue a degree in Business at the National College of Business in Rapid City, SD. On August 19, 1956, she married Gay Hatle. Their marriage blessed them with four children: Cindy, Brad, Peggy, and Arlen. Della Mae worked for SD Ag. Statistics for 20+ years and met many farmers and ranchers with whom she became friends.

Della Mae had many loves, whether it be cooking, quilting, music, or- foremost- her family. She pursued each passion with a loving and giving spirit, making her a friend to all she would meet. Della Mae looked forward to her Sister's Weekend, Sibling Christmas, and the Høstfest each year, and enjoyed taking a hot air balloon ride. She had an adventurous side and loved to travel. She travelled to New York, Wisconsin, and Maine. While visiting her daughter, Peggy, in Colorado, she saw her first moose- a very exciting encounter! And a few years ago, she was able to fulfill her lifelong dream of travelling to Norway. She always reveled in the beauty of God's creation and enjoyed flying with her son, Arlen. Quilting was also a big part of Della Mae's life, as she cherished working alongside the women of Indian Creek Lutheran Church to provide quilts for local children's hospitals and nursing homes. She also played piano at Indian Creek for many years. With a love for reading, she was frequently seen at the public library in Bison, hunting for the perfect book.

Della Mae found great joy in spending time with her family. Attending school activities was a favorite pastime and she always supported any activity her grandchildren decided to pursue. Family gatherings were filled with games, music, laughter, and the best caramel rolls and homemade buns around.

Surrounded by her children, her sisters, and their spouses, Della Mae went home to be with Jesus on October 8th, 2016, at the Rapid City Regional Health Hospital due to heart complications.


She is survived by her children, Cindy (Kyle) Butts, Gillette, WY, Brad Hatle, Meadow, SD, Peggy Pagliaro, Steamboat Springs, CO and Arlen (Julie) Hatle, Meadow, SD; nine grandchildren, Heidi (Nate) Meadows, Heather (Drew) Lockwood, Brandon (Jasmine) Hatle, Tyler (Nicole) Hatle, Hanna Pagliaro, Anna, John, Sara and Will Hatle; two great-grandchildren, Norah May and Wyatt John Hatle; her siblings, Darwin (Arlene) Oliver, Shadehill, SD, Bonita (Gene) Lyon, Darlys Clark and Lynette (Kenny) Even, all of Rapid City, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter in infancy; two grandsons, Levi Butts and Nicholas Pagliaro; and one brother-in-law, Ben Clark.

A family service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.