Monica Lea Westhoff, 80 of Hartford, SD, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Sanford Medical Center.

The family will be present to greet friends beginning at 10 am, a rosary will take place at 10:30 a.m., led by Monica's discipleship group with a Memorial Mass beginning at 11 am on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at St George Catholic Church Hartford, SD. Burial service will be held at the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, IA, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers Monica requests that memorials be directed to the Sioux Falls Humane Society, McCrossan Boys Ranch, and St. Joseph's Indian School.

Monica Mushitz, daughter of Leo and Florence (Miller) Mushitz, was born in Wagner, SD, on April 22, 1945. She graduated from Geddes High School in 1963 and received her associate's degree from the National College of Business, Rapid City, SD now National American University in 1964.

After graduating college, she moved to Salem, South Dakota where she worked for the county courthouse, in the Department of Public Welfare.  When riding her bike down the street one day, Monica had a flat tire and was helped by a young man named Mark Westhoff. Monica was united in marriage with Mark on April 30, 1966, in Geddes, SD.  Monica and Mark started their family in Salem, eventually moving to Spencer, IA, where Monica worked at the Spencer National Bank as a loan officer, eventually becoming Vice President of the department for First Interstate Bank. Monica's beloved Mark passed away on November 29, 1983, and after 13 years of banking, made the decision to get her Certified Financial Planner certification and worked for Ameriprise Financial Services for 26 years.

Monica "retired" in 2008 and moved to Hartford, SD.   Monica kept busy by continuing to work on a part-time basis for Ameriprise, scheduling appointments and writing quotes for her son's business Hardtops of SD, while also attending football games, wrestling meets, swim meets and plays of her grandchildren. Grandma Mike didn't miss these events, and the kids could always count on her to be there. ​ She loved playing cards with her grandchildren each Christmas after opening gifts, many, many laughs were had by all of them.   Monica traveled the country along with taking trips to London with her daughter Val, Italy with her church group and cherished time with family, friends, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and absolutely loved the new adventure of being GG, Great Grandma Mike. She was a member of St. George Catholic Church, and loved her Monday morning lady's discipleship group.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughters Valerie (Val) Westhoff of Vancouver, WA, Victoria (Vicky) Tiedemann and her husband Brian of Charles City, IA; son Paul Westhoff and his wife Rebecca, Hartford, SD; sisters Faye Clough, Rapid City, SD, Karen Bordewyk and her husband Barry, Sioux Falls, SD; brother Keith Mushitz, Geddes, SD; sister-in-law, Kay Mushitz, Geddes, SD, brothers-in-law Lyle Westhoff and his wife Marlene, Olympia, WA, Bob Westhoff and his wife Val, Salem, SD; sisters-in-law Gelane Parcher, Enemclaw, WA, Nadine Krebser and her husband Rick, Olympia, WA,  grandchildren Mark Tiedemann and his wife Skyler, Rudd, IA, Tayler Griffin and her husband Tyler, Charles City, IA, Tristin Westhoff and Sarah Wuertz, Hartford, SD, Joseph (Joe) Westhoff and Sammy Korkow, Hartford, SD; great-grandchildren Teagen and Gracelyn (Gracie) Tiedemann, Rudd, IA, Kassius (Kash) Westhoff, Hartford, SD, Alexander (Alex) Griffin, Charles City, IA;  and several beloved nieces and nephews; along with many other relatives and wonderful friends.

Monica was preceded in death by her beloved husband Mark; mother-in-law Lonnie Westhoff; parents Leo and Florence Mushitz; brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Diane Westhoff; brother Raymond Mushitz and brother-in-law Dennis Parcher.

Love, Prayers and a Hug!!!!