Marietta Wieseler, 80, of Sioux Falls and formerly of Polo, passed away Monday, January 3, 2022, at her daughter Laree’s home in Sioux Falls after a 15-month journey with stage-4 colon cancer.  She chose hospice care as she wanted the rest of her life to be filled with quality.  She outlived her initial life expectancy estimates and proclaimed a miracle because of all the prayers and masses said for her.  She enjoyed several visits by her siblings and children, including celebrating the holidays to the fullest.  She made several trips back to the family farm near Polo.  She even made one big trip to Lander, Wyoming to celebrate her niece’s wedding and on the way was able to visit her husband’s gravesite at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.  She celebrated her 80th birthday for a week straight in July 2021.  She also enjoyed another round of holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Liborius Catholic Church in Polo, SD at 5:00 pm on Friday, January 7, 2022, with Fr. Randy Phillips, celebrant.  A rosary will be led by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Our Lady of Fatima #1518, Orient/Polo prior to the mass.  Refreshments and fellowship will follow after the mass.  A separate visitation will be held on Thursday, January 6, 2022, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at St. Michael Parish in Sioux Falls, SD. A rosary will be led by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Mother Teresa #2510 at 7:00 pm, followed by a prayer vigil with Fr. Tom Hartman officiating.  Inurnment will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD at a later date.

Marietta Laree (Smalis) Wieseler was born on July 18, 1941, to Anthony “Tony” and Fern (Tusler) Smalis at Good Samaritan Hospital in Terry, Montana.  Her father passed away in World War II in May 1945.  Marietta was an only child until her mother remarried Howard Pomeroy.  She graduated Terry High School in 1960 where she was active in High School plays and band.  After graduation, she went to Key West, FL with cousin, Odelta (Tusler) Jordan and her three children as her cousin’s nanny.  While in Florida, she attended certified nursing assistant program and worked at the Keys Community Hospital.

A year later, she moved to Miles City, MT and worked at Holy Rosary Hospital as a CNA.  This hospital was operated by the Presentation Sisters of Aberdeen, SD.  She attended a few classes at Miles City Community College while working.  One of the sisters helped enroll Marietta in the St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Aberdeen.  While attending school, she also studied about the Catholic faith and joined the Catholic Church.   She graduated in August 1966 with a 3-year diploma Registered Nurse.  She worked for one year at Ft. Meade VA Hospital in Sturgis, SD.

Marietta married James “Jim” Wieseler at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Bear Butte, SD on October 7, 1967.  Marietta met Jim at a fireman’s dance in Miller, SD when she came to Polo with a nursing student classmate.  To this union, they welcomed four children: Lanae, Rosemary, Laree and Rory.

Marietta volunteered her time to several organizations.  She was lector, commentator, and sang in the choir at St. Liborius Catholic Church in Polo.  She held offices in Christian Mothers (Altar Society) and Catholic Daughters of the Americas.  She belonged to a food coop and volunteered as a librarian aid at both the St. Liborius School and Polo Community Libraries.  Jim and Marietta taught Natural Family Planning.  She also supported her husband in the many offices he held as part of the Richard Clement Legion Post 299 in Polo and National Farmers Organization.

Marietta worked at the Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield at the beginning of her marriage for 9 years.  After the birth of their third child, she did childcare for the Polo school teachers and other people in the community.  After their fourth child started school, she started working at the Prairie Good Samaritan Living Center in Miller, SD.  She worked briefly at Miller Clinic but her Lupus and Fibromyalgia diagnosis changed her life, which led her to hobbies such as quilting and crocheting.

Jim and Marietta enjoyed traveling across the United States in a car, visiting family and friends along the way.  They made annual trips to Montana to visit her parents and family.  Other trips were made for conventions, weddings, and site-seeing.

Marietta is survived by her children:  Lanae Wieseler of Rapid City, SD, Rosemary (Tori) Bessette of Redford MI, Laree (Jerry) Giovannettone of Sioux Falls, SD, and Rory (Jamie) Wieseler of Orient, SD; two grandchildren: John and Lane Giovannettone; two brothers: Darrell (Margaret) Pomeroy of Williston, ND and Darwin Pomeroy of Williston, ND, two sisters: Electa Pomeroy of Peoria, AZ and Mavis (Scott) Schipman of Rapid City, SD; many nieces and nephews; and special friends: Tony, Delila, Paton, Landon, and Jessie Coyle of Orient, SD.

She is preceded in death by her husband, James Wieseler; her parents: Anthony Smalis and Fern Pomeroy; stepfather, Howard Pomeroy; one sister, Marsha Hall and two children: twin heavenly angels.

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