Joanne Marie Tieman

Joanne Marie Tieman, age 72, of Vermillion, SD, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a short battle with ALS on November 29th, 2021. Joanne was born to Marvin & Kay (Kasten) Erickson on July 5th, 1949; the same day, electricity reached their rural home in Hartford, SD. Joanne attended a one-room country school, Wellington #107, until the middle of 7th grade when her family moved to the Kasten Farm. She attended Parker School until she graduated in 1967. She attended St. Christina Catholic Church in Parker where she received First Communion & was confirmed. Her whole life, Joanne cared so deeply for others that all could sense her genuine interest in every interaction. She was “present” in every conversation, and showed her love through boundless generosity equally to people she knew and strangers she would never meet. It is no wonder that Joanne chose a life of service to others. Joanne graduated from Mount Marty College in 1971 with a BSN in Nursing. That same year, her college peers crowned her homecoming Queen (Lady Marbinette the 13th on Friday the 13th). She also earned a Master of Arts in Adult Education from USD in 1978 and a Master of Nursing from SDSU in 1990. She started her 43-year nursing career at Dakota Hospital in Vermillion, SD. In 1972, Joanne started teaching at Mount Marty College and taught until 1975 when she joined the nursing faculty at USD where she worked until 1995. From 1971-1987 Joanne also worked at the Mickelson Center and the VA in Sioux Falls teaching clinical for nursing students. She then left teaching and continued to serve in Home Health and Hospice for three years before joining the Care Team at the Sanford Vermillion Care Center where she worked until her retirement in 2015. During her nursing career Joanne was a big part of the National & State Nurses associations & was awarded the “Nurse of the YEAR” award three times (1990, 2005, 2020) as well as the SD Presidential Nursing Award and the Nursing Hall of Fame both in 2020. In her free time Joanne was dedicated to her community. She taught Lamaze childbirth classes, led La Leche League support groups for new mothers for 10 years, participated as a RELAY for LIFE volunteer and fundraiser (30+ year Cancer Survivor), volunteered for ESA, CASA, Eagles Auxiliary (25 years), St Agnes Church (Ladies auxiliary, Catholic Daughters, Sunday school, CCD, CYO), and attended OLLI classes where she started a Pinochle group. She married Leslie “Les” Mehlhaff (Tripp, SD) on June 12, 1971. To this union 4 children were born: Lisa (Lon Kopecky), Mari (Paul von Fischer), Gina Mehlhaff and Daniel Mehlhaff (Deb). Joanne remarried on October 26th, 1996 to Rod Tieman of Vermillion, SD. The center of her life was always family & giving back to her community. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin & Kay Erickson, her step father, Alfred Johnson, Grandparents, Alfred & Zella Kasten, Fred & Margie Erickson and step Grandfather, Joe Sechser. Survivors, who will miss her dearly, include: her loving husband, Rod Tieman, children, Lisa (Lon) Kopecky, Mari (Paul) von Fischer, Gina Mehlhaff, Daniel (Deb) Mehlhaff, sisters, Lavonne Meyer, Virginia (Bob Kofski) Erickson, brother, Ralph Erickson, Grandchildren: Landon, Isaac, Lance, Summer, Lawson, Macy, Elly, Myles, and many nieces & nephews. The burial will follow at Bluff View Cemetery. After the burial, a meal will be served at St. Agnes Catholic Church in the hall. In memory of Joanne, you are invited to engage in fellowship and some of her favorite games following the meal. Memorials to the Family for a later designation to organizations Joanne loved and supported.