Joanne Flack of Mitchell passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at Firesteel Health Care in Mitchell, SD. Funeral services will be at 4:00 PM Sunday, February 25, 2024 at Will Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM the same day.
Joanne was born June 29, 1934 to Albert and Elsie (Hoyt) Stephens in Galesburg, IL, where she grew up and graduated at the Galesburg High School in 1952. She was married to Donald Starks from 1952-1967; they had seven children, two sons died in infancy. She was married to John Groome from 1968 until his death in 1979. Joanne later moved to Gillette, WY and married Richard Flack in 1983.
She enjoyed baking, crafts, and attending many craft shows and flea markets. In January 1986 they moved to rural Forestburg, SD and she worked at East River Nursery just south of Huron. When they moved to Mitchell in 2001, living across from Dakota Wesleyan’s Science Hall gave them opportunity to enjoy many concerts and plays there. They enjoyed Mitchell Wesleyan Church and the James Valley Senior Center. She made many friends working part time at the Fabric Warehouse on 4th and Main for several years.
After Richard passed away, January 1, 2007, Joanne moved to Meadow Lawn Apartments where she started a Project Linus Quilting Group, making and trying quilts so that every child in the hospital could have their own new quilt. The group continued with numerous members for over seven years. Joanne also made hundreds of mittens for the Abbot House and the hospital. Later she enjoyed teaching classes with “Better Choices Better Health”, where she again made lifelong friends. In declining health, she moved to Firesteel Health Care on January 23, 2024 and passed on to Glory with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at 8:30 AM on February 21, 2024.
Joanne is survived by four children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as numerous friends.