89
Spink, SD
Dec. 17, 1936 – Jan. 25, 2026
Joanne A. Hatton, 89, of Spink, South Dakota passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Sanford Vermillion Care Center.
Joanne Arlene Hatton was born on December 17, 1936 in Sioux City, IA to Albert and Josie (Paulson) Moberg of Spink, South Dakota. Premature and “so tiny” that she fit into palm of her father’s hand, she lived far beyond her fragile beginning.
Joanne’s parents brought her home at 12 weeks of age to grow up on farms in the Spink area. When she was 7 years old, they settled onto the farm of T.P. Solem, where her father would forge the way through high snow drifts to the South Spink Schoolhouse, seated at the end of their drive. There, her siblings were born and many schoolteachers boarded with the family over the years. She attended Alcester High School, where she was active in both Choir and Declamation. Graduating in 1954, she went on to attend nurses training in Sioux City at St. Luke’s Methodist College, graduating with honors.
In 1958, Joanne was living in Sioux Falls and working at the VA hospital when she met Sam Hatton, an airman stationed at Ellsworth AFB. A courtship ensued of faithful correspondence, punctuated by Sam’s marathon drives across state to visit, whenever the two’s busy service schedules allowed. They were married on December 30, 1959 at Ahlsborg Lutheran Church in rural Spink.
The couple continued to serve others in their own fields, making home and working wherever the Air Force demanded. The couple raised two children, David (1962) and Lora (1963) in Texas, Colorado, California, Massachusetts, Montana, Mississippi, and South Dakota. Joanne moved her little family to Vermilion in 1969, working at the hospital during the time that Sam served overseas. In 1974, upon Sam’s retirement from the USAF, the couple moved back to Spink, where they farmed for many years. Joanne served as Director of Nursing at the Alcester Nursing Home and worked for Dr. Tom Olson, as well as serving as a county extension nurse. She was an active member of the Ahlsborg Cemetery Association and the Brule Creek Ladies Aide. A caretaker and kind heart, Joanne offered her time towards the care of her parents and life-long neighborhood friends, often visiting to deliver medications or just “checkup.” In her later years, Joanne herself, bravely battled multiple cancer diagnoses, including a disfiguring facial cancer that she did not allow to define her. Her openness to living a long life, out and among the community, was an inspiration to many.
Joanne is preceded in death by many whom she loved, including the love of her life, Sam Hatton; her parents, Albert and Jo Moberg; her most beloved cousin and “sister”, Lois (Wiberg) Anderson; her brother-in-law, Steve Peterson; and her grandson-in-law, Charles Pyng.
Joanne is survived by her sisters, Kathy and Janet, and her brother, Kenneth; a son, David (Karla) of Sioux City, and her daughter, Lora (Gil) of Spink/Janesville, Wisconsin; 6 grandchildren (Curt, Josie, Nancee, Nikki, Lolly and Kenlei); 7 great-grandchildren (Max, Cal, Nina, Dominic, Cece, Oliver and Cami), and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
In the night before Joanne’s passing, her daughter began to read to her aloud from the letters Sam had posted to Joanne during their courtship. His words to his “dearest darling” offered insight into the life they would spend together–the spirit of their love. On the morning of January 25th, Joanne lay listening to a young Sam urge her, “Honey…it seems like forever and a day since I saw you. I wish you would hurry home.” It was then that Joanne quietly and peacefully joined him in heaven. Now they are home, together again.
The Celebration of Life will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Brule Creek Lutheran Church with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Ahlsborg Cemetery in rural Elk Point, SD.
Kober Funeral Home of Vermillion, SD has been entrusted with the service. Condolences may be posted online to www.koberfuneralhome.com