Glenda Langeland

Glenda Langeland, 75, of Freeman passed away on April 3rd, at Oakview Terrace in Freeman. A graveside service, open to the public, will be held on Saturday, April 25th, at 11 am at the Menno City Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life Open House which will take place from 12:30pm - 2pm at the Prairie Arboretum Center in Freeman. Visitation will be Friday, April 24th, from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm at the Walter's Funeral Home in Freeman.

Memorial gifts may be designated to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, an organization focused on research and education to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures - www.bafound.org

Glenda Rae Langeland was born to Ray and Lucilla (Goehring) Dewald on February 3, 1951 at Parkston, South Dakota and grew up on a farm near Tripp, SD. She was baptized as an infant and grew in the faith while attending church with her family over the years. She attended country school as a child and later earned a GED.

Glenda met the love of her life, Carrol Langeland, and after a brief courtship they were married on February 21, 1971. The two then moved to Selma, Alabama where Carrol completed pilot training for the US Air Force.

During Carrol’s service in the Vietnam War, Glenda accompanied him while he was stationed in Taiwan. They returned to the states following Carrol’s tour of duty. At Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine, the couple welcomed their first two daughters, Michelle and Mandy.

In 1977, Glenda and Carrol moved to Carrol’s family farm near Menno, SD after his honorable discharge from the Air Force. Glenda settled into a life of homemaking and helping on the farm while also welcoming a third daughter, Heather. Glenda helped Carrol start an aerial crop dusting business, Hutchinson Ag Service. During these years, Glenda’s generous spirit and gift of hospitality filled the house with joy, laughter and memories.

Glenda was a faithful church attender and took part in the life of several area congregations over the years. She enjoyed teaching Sunday school and Bible school, attending women’s Bible study groups and singing in church choirs. As the children grew older, Glenda ventured out of the home working as a pharmacy technician in Freeman, SD and later Yankton and Sioux Falls, SD. She also served on the Freeman Academy Board of Directors where her daughters graduated high school.

After retiring, Glenda and Carrol sold the farm and moved into a house next to their airplane hangar. The couple enjoyed snowbirding in Phoenix, AZ and welcomed five granddaughters. Glenda treasured time spent with grandchildren and loved hobbies including jewelry making and sewing. Glenda and Carrol celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2021.

In November of 2014, Glenda suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. Carrol considered her recovery a miracle of God and lovingly cared for Glenda until his passing in May of 2023. Glenda then moved to assisted living in Freeman where she enjoyed being in community and working on crossword puzzles daily.

Glenda will be remembered for her bright and bubbly personality, enthusiasm for adventure, her witty remarks, fashionable taste, love of cooking and baking, and her infamous chocolate pie. Glenda supported and encouraged her daughters and granddaughters while teaching them many of the skills she possessed. She instilled in them a strong work ethic and a passion for excellence in all endeavors, especially hospitality and helping others.

After several months of struggling with vascular dementia, Glenda passed away on April 3, 2026. Cherishing her memory are daughters, Michelle (Colin) Hofer of Freeman, SD; Mandy (Jason) Van Hofwegen of Lynden, WA; and Heather (Dustin Furgeson) of Salem, SD; granddaughters, Madeline and Claire Hofer; Emma, Lily and Ava Van Hofwegen; brother, Larry (Dione) Dewald of Tripp, SD; sisters, Sharon Fischer of Pittsboro, NC; Julie (Lyle) Blom of Pipestone, MN; and Carol (Jeff) Breitkruetz of Crooks, SD; along with a host of extended family and friends.