Lyla Ruth Hirsch
October 30, 1933 ~ May 3, 2025
Lyla R. Hirsch, Vermillion, SD, passed away on Saturday, May 3, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.
A private family service will be held. Memorials may be sent to Lutheran Hour Ministries (https://www.lhm.org/), Main Street Living (https://www.mainstreetliving.com/), or a charity of choice.
Lyla Ruth Voorhees was born in Hitchcock, SD, on October 30, 1933, to Leo and Winnie (Christenson) Voorhees. She earned her undergraduate English degree at Huron College and her Master of Education at South Dakota State University. She taught in many places across South Dakota, from substituting in elementary schools to freshman English at the University of South Dakota.
Lyla and Robert (Bob) Hirsch were married in St. Louis, MO, on February 16, 1968, and they shared a wonderful life until his death in 2004. They loved supporting the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church and its many ministries. They also loved to entertain, politics, music, traveling, Boy & Girl Scouting, and especially their family. Lyla moved to Vermillion to be closer to family in 2016 and enjoyed many days substituting in Vermillion schools where she could catch sight of her grandchildren. Despite her Dutch heritage, she embraced the Hirsch German Russian life, and a family event was not complete without her strudels and chicken. Finally, Lyla loved a good game of bridge, even until up to a couple of weeks before her death.
Lyla is survived by her daughter, Sarah (Alan) Wittmuss, Vermillion, SD; their children, Ella and Theo; daughter, Jayne List, Indianapolis, IN; her children, Emilie and Philip and families; stepson, Colonel (Ret.) John (Cheryl) Hirsch, Sioux Falls; their sons, John Scott II, Colonel (Ret.) Joshua, and Jacob and families; stepson, James (Glenda) Hirsch, Arlington, TX; and brother, Merlin Voorhees, Onida, SD.
Lyla was preceded in death by brother, Russell Voorhees; stepbrothers, Don and George; and stepsister, Leota.
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