Lita (Kotalik) Wells

Lita (Kotalik) Wells, age 48 of Yankton, SD passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 PM, Monday, November 17, 2025 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Tabor, SD with Rev. Darin Schmidt officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at the church. The Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Tabor, SD is assisting with the service details. Online condolences may be sent at: www.okfhc.com. To view Lita’s service livestream click this link: https://server.attend.live/static/event/68Yon.

A Memorial has been established in her honor to benefit the Lakeport Church, a favorite local historical landmark, in its restoration.

Lolita (Lita) Wells was born to Arthur and Geraldine (Wubben) Kotalik May 14th 1977 at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital. Lita grew up in a busy family of 4 brothers and a sister initially joining Randy and Sara (Kotalik) Sherman, Ben Kotalik and Wendy Jungemann, with 3 more Brothers joining them James Kotalik, Eric and Jillian (Hampton) Kotalik, and Andrew Kotalik.

Lita attended bible school and received her confirmation at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor SD. All through life Lita studied and applied these teachings to life and family, she was truly a woman of unshakeable faith, as a young lady she aspired to serve the lord and considered for many years becoming a Nun.

Lita attended grade and High School in Yankton SD graduating in 1995. Growing up she excelled in 4-H showing sheep, pigs, horses and cattle. She also exhibited many static arts and crafts along with her siblings. She remained a strong supporter of the 4-H program through the years, mentoring her children and volunteering in the program. She played French Horn in both the Highschool Marching Band and Highschool Band, from which she enjoyed telling stories about. She passed on this talent for music to her children with 3 beautiful voices and a 16 year old daughter who excels at multiple instruments including the French Horn, Piano, Guitar and is becoming a talented songwriter. During her Highschool years Lita enjoyed her work caring for the elderly, both in home and institution settings. She loved her “little ladies” and went far out of her way to make sure they were cared for. Lita was very active in the Tabor Czech Days Gala Running for the title of Czech Queen receiving 1st runner up and winning the Czech Slovak Queen title where she represented both Tabor Czech Days and the Czech Heritage Festival in Wilbur Nebraska, shortly after high school.

She attended college at SDSU in Brookings SD earning a bachelor's degree in Range Science. After graduation she went to work for the Natural Resources and Conservation Service in Yankton SD where she trained and was posted to her first position in Bison SD where she assisted area farmers and ranchers with grazing and other conservation plans and financial assistance.

Lita met her future husband Brian Wells of Rapid City SD in late 2001. It was a chance meeting where Brian happened to be in Bison visiting his parents due to his truck being broken down. They were introduced by some of Brian’s old High School friends at an evening get together. Brian and Lita fell deeply in love over the course of the next few months and were united in holy matrimony at the St Wenceslaus Catholic Church on July 5th 2003. From this union they were blessed with 3 children Dustin Wells, Daemik Wells and Marcella (Marce) Wells. Lita’s life revolved around her family and she was fiercely protective of them. Lita continued working in health care until her health would no longer allow it. She then took a position as a paraprofessional and assisted her husband in managing day to day operations of his family's insurance agency. In 2022 Brian and Lita moved to Yankton SD so that Lita and the kids could be closer to other family members. Lita's health had been failing for several years and with the death of Brian’s father and no other family in the area they made the decision to sell their stake in the insurance agency. Lita began work at First National Bank of Omaha in customer service and enjoyed working there until her death. Lita had many hobbies but her passion was quilting which she was just starting to make her own business out of.

Lita was preceded in death by her grandparents Lawrence and Irene Wubben, Joseph and Marcella Kotalik and Father in Law Jerry Wells.

Pallbearers for the service are Ben Kotalik, James Kotalik, Eric Kotalik, Andrew Kotalik, Randy and Sara (Kotalik) Sherman. Honorary pallbearers include all of her friends and family.

Memorial gifts and cards of support along with requests for a recording of the service may be mailed to the following address or dropped off at the funeral home in Yankton. Lolita Wells Memorial, 407 Green Street, Yankton SD 57078.