Michael "Mike" F. Waltman

Michael “Mike” F. Waltman, 58, of Leola, SD, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

His memorial service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 3, 2021, at the Leola High School Gymnasium, 820 Leola Avenue, Leola, with Pastor Judy Schultz, of St. James Lutheran Church, officiating.

Burial will take place at Green Mound Cemetery in Leola at a later date.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 4-6 p.m., Saturday, January 2, 2021, at the mortuary, with a public prayer service beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Michael’s family respectfully requests the use of masks at his visitation and services. 

Family and friends may sign Michael’s online guestbook and also view his service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Leola Golf Association.

Michael F. Waltman was born in Aberdeen, SD at St. Luke’s Hospital to Jack and Connie (Boyle) Waltman on August 25, 1962.  He grew up on the family farm northeast of Leola.  Michael attended Leola school and graduated from Leola High School in 1981.  He continued his education at Northern State College until he returned to the family farm.

Shortly after returning to the farm, Michael married Jolene Zenker on June 23, 1984.  They made their home on the family farm where they were blessed with and raised two sons; Matthew Layne and Mitchell Lee. 

On May 28, 2016, he married Diane (Yost) Hoffman adding two children to his family; Tyler and Morgan Hoffman.  Mike and Diane made their home in Leola, SD, where he was active within the community for many years, being involved in coaching both football and basketball, school board member, the Carl Township Board, Leola Development Corporation, Fire District Board, Leola City Council, Leola Golf Association, and Leola Fireworks Association.  Mike was particularly proud of being a part of the construction of a new clubhouse at the Leola Golf Association and seeing many improvements around the course leading to an expansion of its membership in recent years.

In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, traveling, attending sporting events of his children as well as the Twins and Northern sports teams. He was an avid Cornhusker fan, cheering on the football team through good years and bad.

Mike was a proud part owner/operator in Waltman Farms, where he enjoyed working with his family for over 40 years. He took great pride in the fact that he was able to work every day alongside his father, brother, and both of his sons. Mike was passionate about farming and ranching and you would often hear him talking about them. One of the highlights of every year was when he would attend the annual production sales of some of the major registered Angus breeders in the area.

He also enjoyed his time spent with family and friends. Everyone who knew Mike would know that he always had a joke or comment that would get the whole room laughing.  His boisterous personality would easily fill any room he was in.  With the birth of his grandchildren, Mike had discovered a new depth of love, cherishing every moment spent with them.  “Grandpa Mike” was one of his proudest titles.

Mike always had a love for the mountains, sometimes making spur of the moment trips to the Big Horn Mountains just to take in the views. He often chose to pass through Bear Country where his favorite thing was to watch the bears being fed. Recently, he also discovered a love for beaches making multiple trips to warmer weather during the cold South Dakota winters.

Grateful for sharing Mike’s life is his wife, Diane (Yost) Waltman; his children:  Matthew (Sondra) Waltman, Mitchell (Kacy) Waltman, Tyler (Alisha Haddock) Hoffman and Morgan (Kyler Johnson) Hoffman; two grandchildren, Mikayla Waltman and Lincoln Waltman; his parents, Jack and Connie Waltman; his older brother, Jeff (Michele) Waltman; his mother and father-in-law, Jeanette and Darrel Yost; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

Mike was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Jacob and Martha Waltman; and his maternal grandparents, Everette Boyle and Loraine Montgomery.

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