JoAnn McChesney

JoAnn McChesney passed away peacefully at Good Samaritan Hospice in Canton, SD, on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

JoAnn Smith was born on November 7, 1942, to Henry (Harry) and Alice (Young) Smith at Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD.  JoAnn grew up in rural Wakonda. She attended Ireland District 54 Country School and graduated from Wakonda High School in 1960.  JoAnn attended Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing, Yankton, and Presentation School of Nursing, McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls. She received her RN Diploma in 1963 and worked at McKennan until Spring of 1966.

JoAnn married Gary Christenson of Vermillion, SD, on January 27, 1966, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Wakonda.  They shared their life together in the Vermillion area for the next 29 years where they raised their two children, Julie and Michael.  JoAnn was an RN at Dakota Hospital during this time while Gary operated Christenson Construction.  Gary passed away in 1995 from heart disease.  JoAnn continued RN work between Vermillion and Sioux Falls as Dakota Hospital became associated with Sanford Health.

JoAnn met Russ McChesney in Sioux Falls and they were united in marriage on November 20, 1999.  They shared 19 wonderful years together, taking care of their three dogs and traveling to many destinations across the United States to visit children, family, and friends until Russ lost his battle with cancer in August 2018.

JoAnn is remembered as a kind, caring, and loving person who always ensured her family, friends, and nursing patients received the best possible care.

Feeling blessed and grateful for having shared her life are her daughter Julie DeGreeff and Gary Kelley, Pembroke Pines, FL; granddaughters Rachel DeGreeff, Dania Beach, FL, Bridget DeGreeff, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Madison Christenson, Aurora, CO; stepchildren Cynthia McChesney, Sioux Falls, son-in-law Darrell Lindner, Dell Rapids, Nancy Muth, Sioux Falls, Kevin McChesney and wife Debbie, Sioux Falls, Daniel McChesney and wife Rhonda, Sioux Falls; 19 step-grandchildren and 46 step-great-grandchildren; and brothers James (Jim) Smith and wife Mary Ellen, Palm City, FL, and Patrick (Pat) Smith and wife Cherie, Sioux Falls; and six nephews and nieces.

In addition to her husbands Gary and Russ, JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, son Michael Christenson, son-in-law Todd DeGreeff, and step-daughter Constance Lindner.

Visitation is at 5:00 PM with a prayer service and Rosary starting at 6:30 PM on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Miller Funeral Home (Downtown Location) 507 South Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD.  Mass of Christian Burial is Friday, January 30, 2026, at 10:00 AM at St. Therese Catholic Church, 901 North Tahoe Trail, Sioux Falls.  Burial follows at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, 3001 North Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls.  An invitation is extended to join the family for refreshments and fellowship at St. Therese Catholic Church following the committal service.