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Suzuko "Suzy" Willett, 78, of Tulare, SD, died Friday, January 15, 2016 at the Golden Living Center in Redfield, SD.

Her funeral service will be Tuesday, January 19, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Tulare United Church in Tulare, SD. Pastor Lorah Houser-Jankord will officiate. Burial will be in the Tulare Cemetery.


Visitation will be Monday from 5-7:00 p.m. at Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home, in Redfield, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. www.thelenfuneralhome.com


Suzy Ameku Willett was born Suzuko Ameku on July 3, 1937 in Okinawa, Japan, to Seiki and Ushi (Sakuhara) Ameku. As a child, Suzy lived through the terror of the Second World War where one third of the civilians on her home island of Okinawa, Japan were casualties of the fighting. At the tender age of 18, this beautiful young girl fell in love with, and married, David Willett, on February 2, 1956, in Fukuoka, Japan. He was a young American Air Force Sergeant from Tulare, SD, who was stationed on the island.


This union was blessed with 2 children, Dani and Lli Mary. Dani was born in Redfield, SD and while they were living in Battle Creek, MI, she gave birth to their second child. When David was in Viet Nam, Suzy awaited his return in Tulare and also kept busy by cooking for the school lunch program. With a lifetime of traveling from one duty station to another, Suzy adapted to each new situation with grace and enthusiasm. Her sweet ways and energetic personality made her the only enlisted wife ever voted in as an honorary member of the officers' wives' club. Besides being a loving wife and mother, she was an excellent seamstress, did beautiful needlework, and produced gorgeous quilts. She was a substitute mother to the children in her home daycare, she was acclaimed for her culinary skills, and was always a joy to be around. She was an exceptional person in every way and will be greatly missed.


She is survived by her husband of almost 60 years; her son Dani (Dixie) Willett of Alpena, SD; step-granddaughters Dixie Lea Faughn and Summer Schakel; her daughter, Lli Mary Whitney, of Rapid City, SD and granddaughter, Heather Whitney. She is also survived by her sister, Yuriko, and her brother, Seitoku, both of Japan.


She was preceded in death by both parents and a brother Seiko and a sister Tsuruko.

Monday, January 18, 2016
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home
101 East 7th Ave
Redfield, South Dakota 57469

Monday, January 18, 2016
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home
101 East 7th Ave
Redfield, South Dakota 57469

Tuesday, January 19, 2016
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Tulare United Church
205 Ohio Street
Tulare, SD 57476