Alta Joan Williams, 84, Redfield, SD, passed away Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. Her memorial service will be Friday, April 29, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Redfield United Methodist Church. Reverend Marty Toepke-Floyd will officiate. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home, Redfield. (www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com)

Alta Joan Schultze was born May 25, 1931 to Otto and Winona (Sharp) Schultze in Redfield, SD. She attended grade school at Tulare and graduated from Redfield High School. On December 26, 1948 she married her best friend and love of her life, Walter Williams, and they were married for 63 years.

Joan was employed by Rude Transportation as a bookkeeper; worked at the Redfield Press; was Redfield's first catalog manager for J.C. Penney Co.; and in 1967 became administrative assistant at James Valley Nursing Home. In 1983, she became administrator of the nursing home when it was sold to Beverly Enterprises. In 1985, she and Walter moved to Reedley, California where she served as administrator of Beverly Nursing Home. Later, they moved to Ridgecrest, California where she opened a new nursing home facility. In 1988, they returned to Redfield where she assumed the director job at the Beverly facility. She and her family also owned and ran the "Supper Club" in Redfield for many years. Joan retired in 1991 and enjoyed traveling with her husband to many places. Flower gardening and playing bridge with her friends also filled her time.

Joan was very active in the Jaycettes and in 1955 was elected State Jaycette President. She was active in PTA and served on many committees of the United Methodist Church, including singing in their choir from high school until 2010. She was a member of Eastern Star, Shrine Auxiliary, and served as Memorial Chairman of the Cancer Society for many years.

Joan is survived by her son Ted (Shannon) of Redfield, daughter Cathy (Vahid) Fathi of Sedona, AZ, and daughter Mary Jo (Kevin "Chukk") Haselhorst of San Antonio, TX. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Ryan (Rashmi) Williams and their daughter Addie of Hamel, MN; Brent (Ingrid) and daughters Eliza and Georgia of St. Louis, MO; Dustin (Traci Samelson) Waldner and son Weston of Tulare, SD; Jason Fathi of Golden, CO; Justin (Carrie) Fathi of Chicago, IL; Nicole Fathi of Buckeye, AZ; Erik (Emily) Haselhorst and Baby H of Austin, TX; and Ali (Alex Ramirez) Haselhorst of Austin, TX. She is also survived by foreign exchange student Mimi (Firooz) Milanifar of London, England.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2012 and by her grandson, Chad, in 2010.

Friday, April 29, 2016
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Redfield United Methodist Church
1326 W 1st Street
Redfield, SD 57469