DeeAnn was born September 28, 1961 to Willis and Mavis (Benson) Skadsem in Waterloo, Iowa. In 1965 they moved to a farm in Black Hammer where she grew up. She attended school in Houston, Minnesota and was baptized and confirmed in Black Hammer. Dee lived in Spring Grove, Rushford, and finally in Mabel where she and her sister, Joyce bought a home together.
DeeAnn worked at several jobs including Rush Products (TRW), Northern Engraving, and Watkins, and was a care taker for her siter, Joyce. She enjoyed working and couldn’t wait to go back to work until she was old enough to retire.
She enjoyed going out to the Otterness farm to see her nieces every week and let her dog, Sparky, run around, going to play bingo and eating her supper before or during Bingo (because she didn’t like to cook) with her special friend Elaine, driving around Mabel in her golf cart and giving Sparky a ride, driving around in her Challenger (which she only drove on special occasions, taking drives with her special friend, Jan, always trying to make or fix things, laughing about our childhood experiences (good and bad), and just enjoying a simple lifestyle was what made her happy.
DeeAnn was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in June of 2021. She died at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital on May 5, 2022, at the age of 60.
DeeAnn is survived by her sister Cindy (Tom) Andrews of Black Hammer; brother Larry Skadsem of Spring Grove; three nieces Sherry Otterness of Houston, Minnesota, Elissa Otterness of Black Hammer, and Ashley (Will) Francisco of North Carolina; a nephew Iver (Amy) Otterness of Spring Grove; grandnieces Jazmyne, and Brooklyn Francisco; grandnephews Bohde and Easton Otterness, and Anthony Francisco; Godmother and aunt Gloria (Terry) Sagdalen of Spring Grove; aunt Carol Skadsem; and uncle Dennis Knutson.
She was preceded in death by her parents Willis and Mavis (Benson) Skadsem, a brother Randy,a sister Joyce, and grandparents Melvin and Elida (Olafson) Skadsem, and Gynther and Muriel (Englehart) Benson.
A special thank-you to Elaine White who stayed with Dee during her illness and took very good care of her and her dog, Sparky, to Jan Bublitz who worked, bowled, and just had fun doing things together, to Mark Schulte for helping out with the lawn maintenance, and to “the kids” who were there to help her out whenever she needed it.
Memorial service will be 11 AM Thursday, May 19 at Faith Lutheran Church in Black Hammer, Minnesota with Pastor Leonard Liptack officiating. Burial will be in church Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.
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