Dolly Wagner
WAUSA — Funeral services for Dolly Wagner, 94, Wausa, were held Oct. 16 at Brockhaus Funeral Home, Wausa.
Burial was in Magnet Cemetery, Magnet.
Dolly died Oct. 12, 2023, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, S.D.
Dolly Evelinia (Choate) Wagner, daughter of John and Rosa (Clary) Choate, was born Nov. 21, 1928, at Caraway, Ark. Dolly grew up on a cotton farm with 14 brothers and sisters. During World War II, Dolly and one of her brothers cut wood that was used to make the stock of the guns used by the Army. After the war, Dolly and her daughter, Robbie, moved to Las Vegas, Nev. Dolly worked at her sister’s boarding house and was introduced to David Wagner by her brother.
She and David were married Nov. 21, 1955, at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas. Shortly after their marriage, David adopted Robbie. To their union one son, Dennis Wagner, was born. They lived in Las Vegas until 1959. Dolly and Dave moved around often as he was a lineman employed with the Nebraska Public Power District. In 1968, the family moved to Creighton, and they adopted a daughter, Daphne, in 1974. They later moved to an acreage near Wausa. When her husband died, Dolly moved into Wausa.
Dolly worked as a CNA for many years in Creighton, Bloomfield and Wausa. She also ran a consignment shop in Wausa called Hello Dolly. Dolly worked in the deli department at Main Street Grocery, Wausa, well into her 80s.
Family was the biggest love of Dolly’s life. She loved babies. If there was a baby around, you would find it in her arms as she rocked and sang to it. She enjoyed all of the time she was able to spend with her family.
You would usually hear her singing, yodeling or humming throughout the day. Johnny Cash was her favorite singer. Dolly made sure to teach her family the proper way to fry chicken. She also loved to garden and sew.
She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Yankton, S.D.
Dolly is survived by her children, Dennis Wagner and Daphne (John) Wiegert; grandchildren, Burneice Hegge, Douglas Rickard and Donald Rickard; 14 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brother, Richard Choate; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dave; daughter, Robbie Rickard; and 13 brothers and sisters.
