Christie Wilfahrt

Christie Wilfahrt, age 88, died on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at Bethany Home in Sioux Falls, SD.  

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at St. Lambert Catholic Church, with burial at Hills of Rest Cemetery, Sioux Falls. Visitation begins at 5:00 PM Tuesday at George Boom Funeral Home and On-Site Crematory, Sioux Falls, where the family will greet friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, a Liturgical Wake Service will follow her visitation at 7:00 PM.

Christie was born on September 23, 1936 in Dell Rapids, SD to Jens and Gladys (Braa) Otterness.  She was raised and received her education on a farm near rural Dell Rapids.  Christie graduated from Garretson High School in 1954. 

Christie was united in marriage with Cyril Alfred Wilfahrt on December 5, 1955 in Sioux Falls, SD. The couple made their home and raised their family in Sioux Falls.

Christie first worked at Wilson Trucking and John Morrell and Company before raising her nine children.  She then spent over 29-years working at Sears before her retirement in 2001. 

Christie and Cyril were charter members of St. Lambert Catholic Church.  Christie loved her St. Lambert Parish, teaching CCD, leading the Funeral Committees, being involved with St. Ann’s Guild and was always willing to help with anything else the church needed.  

She enjoyed working in her yard, reading and socializing.  Above all, she cherished spending time with her family.  Christie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who will be deeply missed. 

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Jeff Wilfahrt of South Hamilton, MA, Matthew Wilfahrt of Sioux Falls, Joe (Emily Harris) Wilfahrt of Sioux Falls and Anna Wilfahrt of Hopkins, MN; grandchildren, Amy (Matt) Labo, Dana (Connor Shoos)  Wilfahrt and Alexandra Wilford Harris; great granddaughters, Emily Labo and Maiya Labo; one brother, Kenneth (Terri) Otterness of Bourbonnais, IL; one sister, Gloria (Robert) Sanders of Garretson, SD; three sisters in law, Elaine Raines, Tucson, AZ, Nancy Otterness, Boise, ID, and Alta Otterness of Sioux Falls, SD; as well as many other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cyril Wilfahrt; five sons, Greg, Scott, Christopher, Mark and Kurt Wilfahrt; her parents, Jens Melvin and Gladys (Braa) Otterness; three brothers, Leroy Otterness, James Otterness and Conrad Otterness; and sister and her husband, Lorraine (Mac) McDonald.