JoEtta (Young) Kurtz was called to her eternal home on Sunday, June 14, 2026. She was 94. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Resurrection Lutheran Church (5500 W. 26th St., Sioux Falls), with the family greeting friends for visitation one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sioux Falls Lutheran School.

JoEtta was born in Yankton, SD, on July 12, 1931, to Albert and Inga (Larson) Young. In 1956, she married Marvin Kurtz of Scotland, SD. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Ann (Brian) Herther, Sioux Falls, SD; Kathryn Pearson, Honolulu, HI; and Eric (Connie) Kurtz, Hartford, SD. They were also blessed with 10 grandchildren (Andrew Pearson, Sean Kurtz, John Pearson, Rebecca Herther, Spencer Kurtz, Christina Pearson, Sara Jacks, Bethany Pearson, Lydia Pearson, and Sydney Kurtz) and 12 great-grandchildren.

JoEtta grew up on a farm south of Gayville, SD, with her parents and four siblings. She graduated from Gayville High School in 1949 and then earned her associate degree at Waldorf College in Forest City, IA. She was employed as a medical secretary in Yankton prior to her marriage in 1956. Later, she was employed as a secretary for the Civil Service in Europe and Washington DC.

She enjoyed mentoring young married couples. She also opened her home to people living away from home and family. Upon retirement, she and her husband returned to South Dakota and spent several years as volunteers in the mission fields for the LCMS World Missions.

JoEtta was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, and her brother, Paul. She is survived by her sister, Teresa Emerson of Lebanon, TN; her sisters-in-law, Delphine Olson of Sioux Falls, SD, Kathy Young of Hartington, NE, and Mary Pesek of Yankton, SD; all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.