Talitha June Skaff

Mankato Mortuary 1001 N. Riverfront Drive Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 388-2202 On the morning of September 28th, 2014, Talitha June (Steever) Skaff passed away of natural causes. Talitha was 92 years old. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, October 3, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Fr. John Kunz officiating. A visitation will be held at 12:30 p.m., prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements are with Mankato Mortuary. Talitha was born on the Steever farm near Lennox, South Dakota, to John and Tillie (Snuttjer) Steever. She spoke lovingly of the memories she had growing up with her five sisters and two brothers; Evelyn (Dale Ingalls), Delores "Dos" (Frank Deville), Vyonne "Sis" (Jerry Glaze), Betty "Pat" (Don Bechtel), and Shirley "Sammy" (VanRaam), Harley (Mavis), and John "Jack" (Lola). Talitha married Joseph "Bud" Skaff in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on April 19, 1947. Talitha and Bud had three sons; John D. (Lorraine) Skaff of Livermore, CA, Joseph P. (Paula) Skaff of Streator, IL, and Stephen X. (Vicky) Skaff of Apple Valley, MN. They had four grandchildren; Carissa, Kevin, Sierra, and Jordon; and four great-grandchildren, Braedyn, Noah, Camden, and Janelle. Talitha and Bud moved to Mankato, MN in 1960. Talitha and Bud made many life-long friends in the Mankato area. They were members of St. John the Baptist Church during the time they lived in Mankato. Talitha moved to Ecumen Seasons of Apple Valley, Apple Valley, MN, in 2010 to be closer to family members. Talitha had many talents. She loved to crochet, knit, cross-stitch and sew; and the items she made were usually given as gifts to others. After her children got older, she took up the sport of golf, even wining a trophy for a hole-in-one. Talitha took classes, tested, and received her first driver's license at the age of 55 years old. She loved going dancing with her husband, whom she stated was her best dance-partner ever. Talitha loved visiting her brothers and sisters and their families; she enjoyed long scenic rides in the car, watching movies, playing cards, and joining friends and/or family for everyday or special occasions. If there was an opportunity to go somewhere, anywhere, Talitha took it! In later years, Talitha and Bud escaped the Minnesota winters by traveling to New Braunfels, TX. Talitha and Bud were two months shy of celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary when Bud passed away from cancer (2/10/1992). Talitha has been described as a "spitfire", "spunky", "fun", and "a pistol". She loved life and all those that shared it with her. Talitha was preceded in death by her husband, Bud; an infant grandson, Andrew; her parents; two sisters, Evelyn and Pat; three brothers, infant Robert Myron, Harley, and Jack; a niece, Jan; and two nephews, infant Steven and Bruce. The family would like to thank all of Talitha's wonderful friends who helped her since her husband's death, with special mention of Fred and Dixie Mullerleile. The family would also like to thank Ecumen Seasons of Apple Valley for the outstanding care and compassion they've shown in the four years that Talitha was a resident. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Minnesota State Academy for the Blind.