Joann Rae (Galvin) Fallon, 78, of Redfield, SD passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at Community Memorial Hospital Avera in Redfield.

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield.  Family will be present during this time to accept condolences.  A prayer service and time of sharing will begin at 8 p.m.

Her Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 10, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Redfield with Reverend John Short officiating.  Burial will be on Friday, November 11 at 1:00 p.m. at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.

Joann's prayer service and Mass will be live streamed to the funeral home's website, below her obituary.  Hyke Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements ( www.hykefuneralhome.com ).

Joann Rae Galvin was born in Aberdeen, SD on November 9, 1943, to Raymond and Dorothy (Waters) Galvin.  The family made their home near Athol, SD where Joann attended grade school.  She attended Northwestern High School in Northville, SD, graduating in 1961.  She then attended Northern State College in Aberdeen.  She began working at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield on June 25, 1962, where she worked until her retirement on November 27, 1998.

Joann started in the office and worked her way up to being the office manager. As the office manager she was known to be very thoughtful and a great boss. During her 36 years at the hospital, Joann worked with several administrators and made many lifelong friends.

Joann married Brian Fallon on July 18, 1964, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Athol.  To this union, two daughters were born, Michelle and Sheryl better known as Shelly and Sherry.  Joann was very proud of both girls when it came to school, athletic events, and later successes in their personal life and careers. The couple made their home in Redfield their entire life.

One morning, Joann walked into her mom's house and saw Dorothy crocheting two afghans at once. Trying to help her mom, Joann learned to crochet; this led to her making over 580 afghans in her lifetime. In her spare time, Joann enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, and attending as many of her granddaughters' dance/piano recitals, athletic events, award ceremonies, and grandparent days at school.

Some of her favorite times were the highly anticipated "Grandma Days," where each girl had the opportunity to spend individual time with Grandma. These days consisted of shopping in Aberdeen and taking her girls to the pet store. Joann also enjoyed making her granddaughters' favorite foods such as Oreo cookie salad, banana/pumpkin bread, and her famous Thanksgiving gravy.

Catholic faith was very important to Joann, she was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church and St. Bernard's Altar Society.  She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the retired hospital employee lunch group.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Brian; two daughters:  Shelly Fallon of Sioux Falls, SD, Sherry (Jay) Smith of Redfield; and four granddaughters:  Sydney, Chelsea, Annie, and Kinley Smith.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters:  Rosemary in infancy and D. Frances (Francis) McNeely; and one grandson Michael Stacey.

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Thanks to the participants in Joann's service:

Clergy ~ Reverend John Short

Readers:

Sydney Smith ~ Janet Brubakken

Organist ~ Barb Baus

Cantor and Soloist ~ Raymond Johnson

Pallbearers:

Jay Smith, Russ McNeely, Roger Zens,

Mike Fallon, Richard Brubakken, Garritt Dykstra

Honorary Pallbearers:

Sydney Smith, Chelsea Smith, Annie Smith, Kinley Smith

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