Alma Wollman

Alma Wollman, 98, of Freeman passed away on August 19th at Oakview Terrace in Freeman. Funeral Services will be Saturday, August 24th at 10:30 am at the Salem MB Church of rural Bridgewater. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7 pm on Friday, August 23rd at the Walter Funeral Home in Freeman with a prayer service and time of sharing at 6:30pm. Memorials will be directed to:  Freeman Regional Health Services Foundation

Alma A Hofer Wollman was born on November 23,1925 to Andrew A Hofer & Anna J (Stahl) Hofer at the farm home near Carpenter, SD. She entered her heavenly home on August 19th at the age of 98. Alma had an older brother Tobey & a younger brother Leonard. At the age of 13 Alma became the older sister of Rose Jean. She was the pride & joy of the family until illness took her life at 1 1/2 years of age. The family did not have conveniences like electricity, but Alma recalls how some of the difficulties brought the family together. “In our home, love & kindness was practiced.” A gas lantern with a mantle hung from the ceiling & they gathered around the table to play games. We think this is where her love of games started & she was rightfully known as the “game lady.”

Alma attended country school in Beadle County & graduated from Yale High School in 1943. There was a shortage of teachers during WWII which allowed her to take summer classes at Huron College. She then taught for 1 year in the same country school she attended. She then attended Freeman Junior College for 1 year receiving her teaching certificate. Alma taught country school 4 more years. The Hofer family regularly attended Bethel Church. German spoken in churches was coming to an end & English was now spoken in Sunday School & Bible School. This allowed the younger generation to better understand the Gospel. During a summer revival meeting Alma understood her need to accept Christ as her Savior. She claimed John 3:16 as her salvation verse & upon the confession of her faith was baptized that fall. She was asked to teach pre-school children at her church, which helped her experience the joy of teaching.

Alma met Reuben at a Sunday School Convention in Beadle County. After a year of courtship, they were united in marriage on November 12,1948 at Bethel Church. They established their home 13 miles NW of Freeman & successfully farmed 42 years. They were blessed with 3 children: Belva, Cheri & Merle. Alma had her hands full with 3 small children close together in age, but she enjoyed being a mother. Homemaking skills like cooking, baking, gardening, canning & sewing in addition to being active with farm work was a full-time job. All the children completed county school & graduated from Freeman Academy. Over the years they were supported in many school & church activities. Salem MB was established as their home church & regularly attended. It was important to teach their children Christian values. They participated in Sunday School, Bible School and Byron Bible Camp. Alma loved teaching kids in the pre-school department at Salem. The family served as church custodians for many years.

Reuben & Alma retired to Freeman in 1991 & she readily made new friends. Alma became involved with Freeman Senior Citizens & loved playing games weekly. She also volunteered at the Et Cetera Shoppe for many years. She enjoyed Christian Women’s Club & hosted many Bible studies in their home. Alma had the gift of hospitality! She could

easily cook a meal & share her time with friends & family. For 30+ years she was well known for organizing the making of cheese pockets for Schmeckfest. Her hobbies included crocheting & embroidery. After retirement Reuben & Alma enjoyed traveling in tour groups around the United States. Two of her favorites were a Christian cruise to Alaska & a fruit drying trip to California sponsored by MCC. They often visited Belva in Seattle, but a standout trip was when the 2 youngest Hansen grandsons joined them on Amtrak. Alma had no problem entertaining them with games. They enjoyed being grandparents to Cheri & John Hansen’s 4 boys, then becoming great grandparents to 6 more Hansen children & even now, a great great grandmother to 3 more children.

Reuben & Alma were able to celebrate their 40th, 50th & 60th wedding anniversaries. After 61 years of marriage Reuben passed away in 2009. Alma continued to live in her Freeman home for 11 more years with the help of her son Merle to manage her affairs. It was her decision to move to assisted living at the Salem Home in 2020 when the activities of daily living became too difficult. She was very content during her 3 year stay at Salem Home & had many favorite staff. Of course, she loved to play games on the computer because it “keeps the mind sharp”. Alma developed macular degeneration which made vision increasingly difficult over the years. She used a video magnifier which enlarged the print on a monitor, allowing her to read a book weekly from the library & have her daily devotionals. She had basic computer skills which kept her in touch with the outside world. She was blessed listened to her favorite Christian songs on the computer. Alma was not a complainer & looked on the bright side of life even when her arthritic joints told her otherwise. One of her favorite songs was, Precious Lord, Take My Hand. In her declining years Alma spoke of looking forward to seeing Jesus in heaven, being grateful for what He had done for her, reuniting with so many she loved, while leaving us with the hope of seeing her again.

Grateful to have shared her life are daughter Belva & her late husband Mike Laughlin (Boise ID), daughter Cheri & John Hansen (Gregory SD), Merle & Cecile Wollman (Sioux Falls SD). Grandchildren: Chad & Jenny Hansen (Gregory SD), Matt & Shan Hansen (Chanute KS), Nate & Sarah Hansen (Vinton IA), Nick Hansen (St Paul MN). Great grandchildren: Hannah & Aiden Schneider (Lincoln NE), Emily & Tevin Anderson (Gregory SD), Owen Hansen (Sioux Falls SD), Judd Hansen (Gregory SD), Abram & Barrett Miles (Vinton, IA). Great-great grandchildren: Ruger & Bear Anderson (Gregory SD), Roslyn Schneider (Lincoln NE). Sisters-in-law: Karen Wollman (Mound MN) & Lila Hofer (Huron SD). Hofer nephews: Rick (Austin MN), Rodney & Kathy (Spearfish SD) along with a host of Wollman nieces & nephews. Preceding her in death: husband Reuben; parents, Andrew & Anna Hofer; parents-in-law, Andrew & Barbara Wollman; brother, Tobey & wife Evie Hofer; brother, Leonard Hofer; sister, Rose Jean. Brother-in-law, Sam & wife Mary Wollman; brother-in-law, Simon Wollman; sister-in-law, Mary & husband Edgar Hofer; sister-in-law, Susie & husband Jim Evans; sister-in-law, Naomi & husband Ted Hofer; son-in-law Mike Laughlin.