Starla Wager | 1965 - 2023
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jul 29, 2023 | 7:41 AM / 229 views
Starla Wager, 57, of Seneca, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Faulkton, with Father John Short presiding. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Orient. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at the church.
Starla Kay Boke, daughter of Gail (Jacobson) and Howard Boke, was born at the Gettysburg Memorial Hospital on September 17, 1965. She was raised in Gettysburg alongside her two younger sisters: Suzanne and Andel.
Starla graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1983. She was active in Girl Scouts, FHA, mixed chorus, girl’s glee and drill team. She attended a semester at Northern State University for computer science. When she felt that wasn’t the path for her, she returned home to continue working as a cook at the Gettysburg Manor.
She met the love of her life, Duane Wager, on a night out in Gettysburg. They were married on October 25, 1986, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. The newlyweds made their home on Duane’s family farm south of Seneca. They welcomed their daughter, Talisa, in 1991 and son, Dylan, in 1994.
After an employment break to raise her children, Starla started working at Faulkton Senior Living. She was the lead cook. For 23 years, she was a very devoted, reliable employee who would often stay at the nursing home during blizzards to ensure meals were prepared.
Outside of work, Starla was an active member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Seneca. She taught CCD classes and helped in the kitchen during church events. She also participated in several Easter Seals “For Women Only” rides, which raised money for children with disabilities. She looked forward to the ride every year and loved taking the kids out on snowmobile.
Starla was a social butterfly who loved visiting with old friends and meeting new people. Her most treasured moments were spent riding motorcycle with her husband (they were looking forward to Sturgis), camping, snowmobiling, attending concerts, and traveling. Some of her favorite trips were to Mexico with her husband and a dear group of friends. She also loved the South Dakota State Fair, especially during the years her children showed livestock. She loved Siamese cats, diet coke, a glass of cheap wine, and a round of margaritas.
Starla will forever be loved by her husband of 36 years, Duane Wager; daughter, Talisa (Aaron) Buchholz of Tulare and son, Dylan Wager (fiance Megan Swedeen) of Seneca; mother, Gail Boke of Pierre; sisters, Suzanne (Earl) Voeller of Rapid City and Andel (Heith) Petersen of Pierre; sisters-in-law, Brenda (Doug) Hogg and Starla (Dennis) Volk; nieces: Falyn (Perry) Hempel, Kayla Petersen, and Abby Voeller; and nephews: Cole (Morgan) Hogg, Slayte Petersen, Trae Petersen, and Sean Voeller.
Those greeting her in heaven include her grandparents; father, Howard Boke; aunt, Eileen Worth; uncle, Gene Boke; and great nephew, Kilian Hempel.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Starla’s arrangements.