Janet E. May,  78, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Monday, March 3, 2025 at Orchard Hills Assisted Living. Memorial services will be held at 10:30AM, Friday, March 7, 2025 at The Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Memorial visitation will take place from 5:00 to 7:00PM on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Colman, SD.

Janet Eileen Hammer was born on December 16, 1946, to Otto and Evelyn (Weigel) Hammer in Flandreau, SD. She attended grade school and high school in Flandreau, graduating in 1964.  During high school she worked at Cary's Sundries.  Following graduation, she worked at the Flandreau Indian School.

She married Raymond May in Flandreau on October 23, 1965. He was the one who taught her how to drive! She worked at the S.D. Department of Public Welfare, St. John's Lutheran in Madison, and sold Avon in Madison.  She also worked at the United Methodist Church in Colman and had been church secretary at Colman Midway Lutheran Church for many years.

Jan loved to do various craft projects including cross-stitching, ceramics, wall hangings, and of course quilting. Dad and us kids were the recipients of many sets of home-made pajamas made with love. Many newborns were the lucky recipients of one of her baby quilts. She was quite the baker and many Christmases would host cut-out cookie baking and decorating. Many hours were devoted to canning and gardening. As money was tight, this was a means of providing for her family and as a way to teach her kids this valuable skill. She loved to entertain and play cards, dominoes and UNO Attack (If you know you know), or go to the legion and play bingo.

She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1996, but didn't let that get her down. Her positive attitude kept her moving, going and doing. She was never one to just sit as she always wanted to be a part of life. Jan taught her kids how to play badminton and softball and ended up one of theirs and her grandkids biggest fans in whatever sports they were playing. She had a love for animals and oftentimes the cats ate better than her family with eggs, powdered milk and bread!

Jan's sense of humor, wittiness, sassiness, and a true love for others showed through in everything she did. She left a lasting mark on everyone she encountered, touching their lives through heartfelt conversations and meaningful interactions. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids, Colman Lutheran Church, former 4-H leader, Colman Booster Club member, and an active member of AA.

Jan is lovingly remembered by her children, Russ May (Tami), Lake Madison; Chuck (Ronda) May, Brookings; and Sherri (Robert) Wolles, Dell Rapids; grandchildren, Krista May, Sioux Falls; Morgan (Tyson) Rosenboom, Colman, Austin (Regan) May, DeSmet, Cameron May (Reagan), Daniel May, and Connor May, all of Brookings, Courtney Wolles, Faith, SD, and Jacob Wolles, Dell Rapids; great-grandchildren, Grady and Reid Rosenboom; brother, Ronnie (Elaine) Hammer, Flandreau; mother-in-law, Viola Wangberg, Flandreau; sisters-in-law, Barb May, Tucson, AZ, Sharlene May, Martin, SD, Brenda May, Tucson, AZ, Ruth Brende, Cambridge, MN, Joan Wangberg, Colman, Kathy Brenden, Green Valley, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her parents; father-in-law, Ole Wangberg; brothers-in-law, Bob May, Dick May, Martin May, Jim Brende, Kenny Wangberg and Danny Brenden.