Lee Halstenson, age 78, of Sioux Falls, died Friday, June 23, 2023, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., August 5, 2023, at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Memorials may be directed to the South Dakota Parkinson Foundation Financial Assistance Program (1000 N. West Ave., Suite 220, Sioux Falls, SD 57104) or to First Lutheran Church Media Ministry (327 S. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104). 

LeRoy George Halstenson was born September 12, 1944, to Marvin and Gladys (Rehfeldt) Halstenson in Canby, Minnesota. He grew up in Sioux Falls where he received his education, graduating from Washington High School in 1962. Following graduation, he attended Augustana College where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education. In 1971, he earned his Master of Education in Physical Education from South Dakota State University. Lee attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, earning post-Master Degree credits. 

On June 26, 1965, he was united in marriage to Janet (Jan) Barnes at Buffalo Center, Iowa. The couple lived in Sioux Falls where they both taught school in the Sioux Falls School District. Lee retired in 2001 after 35 years of teaching Physical Education and Health at Whittier and Memorial Middle Schools and coaching boys football and basketball, girls track and cross country. He was named " Teacher of the Year" in 1975. 

In 1975, Lee and fellow teacher, Curt Strom, started S & H Construction, building custom homes during the summer months. After Curt left the teaching profession for full-time employment in the construction business in 1990, Lee became the owner of Halstenson Construction; but as great friends, they often combined their efforts to work on various construction projects.

Always a sports enthusiast, Lee enjoyed participating in football, basketball, track and baseball at Washington High School, playing baseball on the Washington Baseball All-Star, VFW Tweener Team, Midwest Coast and Optimist Teams. A football scholarship to Augustana College allowed him to continue playing the sport he loved. His involvement in sports continued beyond college. From 1968 - 1972 he played amateur basketball for Traub Silo. He also began running, competing in "Beat Your Banker" and other road races, ultimately running in the Sioux Falls Marathon in 1982.  He served as a YMCA Hi-Y coach, and also refereed high school football and boys' basketball, and umpired men's slow-pitch softball. Until his health began to fail, he could still be found golfing, water skiing, snow skiing, and ice skating. After his Parkinson's diagnosis, Lee joined the Parkinson’s Rock Steady Boxing Program.  He loved the exercise, socialization and camaraderie that the Rock Steady Boxing Program provided. 

Lee treasured the memories that were made on family vacations. Many years were spent breaking pinatas in Cancun, Mexico; snow skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado; "shelling" in Marco Island, Florida; and whale watching and snorkeling in his favorite vacation destination-Maui. Yearly trips to Disney World allowed his son with disabilities to experience the joy of inclusion, but as Lee always said, “Going to Disney World is no vacation. It is work!”

This Grandpa, a "Great one," loved watching his granddaughters participate in all their activities, whether it was hobby fairs, science fairs, school programs, orchestra concerts, chorus concerts or piano recitals.  He cheered them on in their various sports, volleyball, golf, track, softball and was their biggest fan. 

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Jan, Sioux Falls; daughter, Staci Wolff, Sioux Falls; granddaughters, Mahala Wolff, Rochester, MN, and Emma Wolff, Sioux Falls, SD; and a brother, Paul (Barb) Halstenson, Sioux Falls: many other relatives and friends. 

Lee was preceded in death by his son, Jeremy Halstenson; his parents, Marvin and Gladys Halstenson; infant brother, Terry Halstenson; and father and mother-in-law, William and Opal Barnes.