Sarah Ann (Duffy) Wetrich passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025 after a life well-lived.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am Thursday, March 6, at Holy Spirit Parish, 3609 E. Dudley Lane, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 with burial next to her husband, Donald, at Woodlawn Cemetery, Sioux Falls, SD.

Visitation will begin at 6:00 pm Wednesday, March 5 with a Wake Service and Rosary at 7:00 pm at Miller Funeral Home Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57108

**The Wake and Rosary will be livestreamed on Wednesday at 7:00 pm.  Please click on this link; https://youtube.com/live/B5xeTebprrQ?feature=share

Born on October 15, 1938, Sarah was the youngest of four children on her parents' farm in Oldham, SD. Perhaps it was moving into town at the age of 12 that made Sarah less of a farm girl, preferring the outdoors viewed through the window, with a blanket over her knees, a chocolate bar in hand, and a cat on her lap. (This penchant for the indoors did not carry over to her husband or children who love to be outdoors.)

Sarah graduated from St. John's School of Nursing in Huron in 1959. On February 24, 1962 Sarah married Don Wetrich. As a widower, Don brought two young children to the marriage. Two more children were added to the crew, for a total of four whom Sarah loved fiercely and who loved her back in equal measure.

Nursing was a hallmark of Sarah's life. Her career as a nurse was emblematic of who she is as a person: compassionate, kind, and caring. During her time as a nurse, Sarah worked at a clinic in Huron, SD, and as a floor nurse in hospitals in Huron and Redfield, SD and in Eaton Rapids, MI. Most of her career was with the McKennan/Avera hospital system in Sioux Falls, SD where she worked on the floor and as a professional development specialist for nurses reentering the field.

The crowning jewel of Sarah's career was her time as a hospice nurse. For 13 years, she cared for patients at the end of life, helping to ease both pain and fear for patients and their families. It's hard to overstate the far-reaching impact of the kindness and compassion Sarah's work as a hospice nurse had for countless people she worked with in this capacity.

Sarah was proud of attaining her Bachelor's of Nursing degree from SDSU in 1991. It is believed that she was the only person to ever receive the honor of Employee of the Year from McKennan not just once, but twice.

An avid seamstress, Sarah's daughters could be found wearing one of her creations when they were young. Later, Sarah became an accomplished quilter, creating beautiful works of art, including custom made T-shirt quilts for many of her grandchildren, as well as table runners and quilts found in many friends' and family members' homes.

Sarah's faith was very important to her and she was an active parishioner in the Catholic communities where she lived, including 17 years at the Cathedral of St. Joseph and 33 years at Holy Spirit. She was also the biggest cheerleader for her children and grandchildren, attending countless sporting events, concerts, and plays across many years. Her son claimed he could hear her yelling his name on the other side of the track.

For the last six and a half years, Sarah has lived at Trail Ridge Senior Living where she found great community. Her children knew that going from her apartment to the front door meant many detours along the way as friends and neighbors would stop to chat. We know from many conversations how much Sarah was loved and will be missed there.

Sarah was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Monica Duffy; siblings and spouses Mary (Vane) Miller, Bernard (Marlene) Duffy, and James (Joan) Duffy; and husband Don. She is survived by her four children Susan (Chuck) Quinn of Pierre, Debbie (Don) Snider of Grand Rapids, MI, Michael (Sandy) Wetrich of Sioux Falls, and Monica (Scott) Healy of Maple Grove, MN; nine grandchildren Patrick (Desiree) Quinn, Lindsey (Justin) Nichols, Alexis (David) Briggs, Ross (Natascha) Wetrich, Sarah Healy, Grace (Bryce) Mullaney, Anna Healy, Gabrielle (Ryan) Holbert, and Elizabeth Healy; and eleven great-grandchildren, as well as many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends who will greatly miss Sarah's kind and generous spirit.

Memorials can be directed to the Daugherty Hospice House of Sioux Falls, Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire, and Feeding South Dakota.