Lacquita Joy Wagner, 89, of Brookings, SD passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Estherville, IA. Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 25, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church, Nunda, SD. Visitation was held from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, September 24, 2023, at Rude’s Funeral Home, Brookings, SD.
Lacquita Joy Olson was born in Arlington, Kingsbury County, SD on Jan. 2, 1934, to Eddie F. & Hilda C. (Anderson) Olson. She was baptized on February 4, 1934, at the Prairie Queen Lutheran Church. She grew up on a farm in rural Nunda and attended country school for 8 years before attending and graduating from Volga High School in 1952. She then went to South Dakota State College. After her father died, she moved with her mother to Brookings. She graduated with a degree in Home Economics, and later received her master’s degree.
She taught Home Economics at Garretson, Washington High School in Sioux Falls, and Colman. She taught at Washington High to be near her mother after Hilda suffered a stroke. She returned to teaching at Colman and met her future husband, Richard Wagner, who was also a teacher at Colman. They married at the First Lutheran Church in Brookings on June 10, 1966. Richard & Lacquita lived in Vermillion while Richard attended graduate school. During their time in Vermillion, their first child, Pamela was born. They moved back to Brookings as Richard finished graduate school, and their second child – Richard, was born. After her husband graduated, the family moved to Estherville, Iowa. Lacquita was active as a Sunday School Teacher at Estherville Lutheran Church, and as a 4-H Leader. She enjoyed sewing, quilts, doll making, crochet, and other crafts, as well as flowers, and gardening. She also took care of her mother for many years in their home. Upon Richard’s retirement, they moved back to Brookings, SD. They enjoyed traveling, researching genealogy, and visiting family. She enjoyed visits from her great-grandchildren and always had lots of smiles for them.
She is survived by her husband, Richard, from Brookings; daughter, Pamela Crosser, Algona, IA; son Richard (Jenny) Wagner, Indianola, IA; five grandchildren – Megan (Travis) Stone, Whittemore, Iowa; Kelsey Crosser, Emmetsburg, IA; Michael Crosser, Emmetsburg, IA; Kathlyn Wagner, Des Moines, IA; and Carson Wagner, Newton, IA; and three great-grandchildren – Ryker & Luke Stone, and Maisie Goeders.
Lacquita was preceded in death by her parents Eddie F. and Hilda C. Olson.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
