Janice M Massey

Janice M. Massey, age 87 of Yankton, SD passed away Sunday, June 14, 2026 at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House, Yankton, SD. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Bob Lacey officiating. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Cemetery (Idylwilde), rural Freeman, SD after a light lunch at church. Visitations will be 5 to 7 PM, Monday, June 22, 2026 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with a Scripture service at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences may be sent at: www.okfhc.com. To view Janice’s service live click this link: https://server.attend.live/static/event/DkwpK.

Janice was born to Lawrence and Marcella Haberer on June 21, 1938. She was the second oldest of nine siblings and they grew up on a farm near Crofton, Nebraska. She attended grade school in Crofton and graduated from high school in Yankton, South Dakota. She worked at Buhl's Dry Cleaners for a time before meeting Robert Massey at the Utica Dance Hall. They were married in June 1959.

Janice was a devoted farm wife until she and Robert retired in 1992. She stayed very busy raising 10 children of her own while also tending 120 laying hens. Janice will always be remembered for her famous waffle cookies and homemade bread. She made sure everyone had snacks and always invited visitors to stay for a meal. After retiring to Yankton, Janice worked part-time at Gurney's and later cared for children at JFK.

She is survived by her children: James (Deb) Massey of Olivet, Bill Massey of Menno, Larry Massey of Yankton, Dan (Debra) Massey of Yankton, Helen (Tom) Novak of Yankton, Frank (Stacy) Massey of Olivet, and Ray (Audrey) Massey of Menno. She was also loved by 23 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her siblings, Chuck (Pat) Haberer of Tea, South Dakota, and Tom (JoAnn) Haberer of Green Valley, Arizona; her son-in-law, Les Punt of Mitchell, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Marcella (Bogner) Haberer; her husband, Robert; her sons, Joe and Steve; her daughter, Valerie Punt; and one great-grandchild, Alexis Luttmann. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Richard, Donnie, Mike, Donna, Lucy, and Kaye.