January 24, 1941 –July 9, 2023
Mass of Christian Burial for Arlyce Wientjes, 82, of Mound City was held Saturday, July 15, 2023, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mobridge. Burial was at the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Arlyce passed away Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the Walworth County Care Center in Selby.
Arlyce Nadine Ducheneaux was born on January 24, 1941 at the Old Cheyenne Agency to Ernest “Tuffy” and Mary (Collins) Ducheneaux. She was the sixth of fourteen children growing up on her parents’ ranch at Promise.
Nicknamed “Amos” by her siblings, she enjoyed her early years riding horses, spending time playing along Virgin Creek and going to sheep camp at their family ranch.
She attended boarding school at Immaculate Conception Mission in Stephan. During her fifth and sixth grade years, she attended the Old Cheyenne Agency school then returned to Stephan, where she graduated in 1960. A memorable moment in high school was crowning the Blessed Mother Mary. She was Homecoming Queen and a cheerleader. She was proud to be crowned the Mobridge Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo Queen in 1958. At the rodeo dance she met the love of her life, Bill Wientjes. They were united in marriage in Pierre on September 15, 1960. They made their home on the Wientjes ranch located west of Mound City where they raised their six children: Tammy, Marlyce, Scott, Jack, Mary and Jamie.
Arlyce enjoyed doing embroidery, attending rodeos, boating, camping, bowling and countless trips to Promise to visit her family and friends.
The annual Ducheneaux family Thanksgiving was very important to her, and she looked forward to it every year.
Christmas was her favorite holiday and she enjoyed decorating and making a huge feast for everyone to enjoy. She loved to laugh and tease.
Arlyce is survived by her loving husband Bill of 62 years; daughters: Tammy (Monty) Hepper of Mahto, Marlyce (Tom) Fritz of Sioux Falls, Mary (Darin) Kessler of Mobridge, and Jamie (Cody) Hulbert of Summerset; sons Scott (Mary) Wientjes of Mound City and Jack (Missy) Wientjes of Glenham; grandchildren Joe Hepper, Skyler Hepper, Nicki Coulter, Jessica (Federico) Garcia Fritz, Melissa (Ben) Kuchefski, Jonathan Fritz, Kenny (Sarah) Wientjes, Todd (Lindsey) Wientjes, Kevin (Michelle) Wientjes, Ryan Wientjes, Lisa Wientjes (Trey Frederick), Chad (Kami) Schaffner, Tyler (Kelcy) Schaffner, Bailie (Chris) Erdmann, Taylor Wientjes, Emily Wientjes, Wyatt Wientjes, Hunter Wientjes, Logan Kosters, Gregory Kessler and Jaxson Lyons; 25 great-grandchildren; sister Mary Jane Anderson; sistersin- law: Bernice (Wientjes) Larson, Lillian (Steinwand) Wientjes, and Betsy (Hunt) Ducheneaux; brothers- in-law: Bob Hagel, Al Aberle, Duane “Whitey” Keller, Ronnie Long, Frankie Thompson, and Ross Lawrence; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
Arlyce was greeted in heaven by her parents; father and mother-in-law Fred and Emma (Werner)Wientjes; sisters: Phyllis Gunville, Audrey Hagel, Janice Aberle, Deloris Ward, Sharon Keller, Lila Long, Bernadine “Bunny” Thompson, Debbie Lawrence, and Marilyn “Butchie” Thompson; brothers Tommy Ducheneaux, Lyle Ducheneaux, and Roman Ducheneaux; sisters-in-law: Hilda (Thompson) Ducheneaux, LaVonne (Wientjes) Merkel, Violet (Wientjes) Aulner, Evelyn (Molvilc) Wientjes, Betty (Snow) Wientjes, Joan (De Sart) Wientjes, Deleen (Jensen) Wientjes, Doreen (Jensen) Wientjes and Phyllis (Wientjes) Davidson; and brothers-in-laws: Elmer Gunville, Dick Ward, Delbert Lamb, Dick Anderson, Vincent Thompson, Walter (Wally) Grage Jr., Clarence Wientjes, Raymond Wientjes, Herbert (Bud) Wientjes, Al Wientjes, Hank Wientjes, Cal Wientjes, Fritz Wientjes, Jim Wientjes, Le Roy Larson, Eldon Merkel, Laverne (Lefty) Aulner, and Dick Davidson.