LeaEtta Diane Carmody, age 77, of Huron, passed away peacefully with  her family by her side, Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the Huron Regional Medical Center, Huron, South Dakota.

View LeaEtta's Memorial Folder

Her memorial service was held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, July 26, at the Living Hope Alliance Church, Huron. Burial followed in the Bohemian National Cemetery, 342nd Avenue and 179th Street, Highmore, Hyde County, South Dakota. Her service was live-streamed.

Visitation was held from 10:00 to 10:30 AM, Saturday at the church.

LeaEtta Diane was born March 7, 1948, to Royal E. and Marllys A. (Abernathy) Cermak, at Miller, South Dakota. She grew up on the family farm North of Highmore, South Dakota, where her biggest love was for horses. She attended a country school until the 8th grade. LeaEtta then continued her education at Highmore High School. After graduating from High School, LeaEtta then attended Airline Stewards School in Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1970, LeaEtta married Russell Lyle Hochhalter at Trinity Lutheran Church at Miller, South Dakota. After their wedding, they lived in Miller, South Dakota. While there, LeaEtta worked as a baker at the Istas Bakery.

In the Summer of 1987, the family moved to Huron, South Dakota. LeaEtta worked as a paper carrier for the Plainsman, Sunbird Seed Company, Ravens, and Super 8 motel.

LeaEtta kept herself busy with being a member of the Hyde County Historical Genealogy Society, training horses, gardening, and tending to her plants. One of her favorites as she was growing up was working on the Cermak family farm in northern Hyde County with her father and siblings.

LeaEtta enjoyed going to garage sales and auctions. She collected horse, butterfly, skunk, and swan figurines. She collected rocks to give to her mother. LeaEtta was also talented in arts and crafts. She helped her sister paint a mural of white tail deer on their bedroom wall.

She had a caring spirit and helped others whenever she could. LeaEtta attended the Living Hope Alliance Church, Huron, South Dakota.

She was preceded in death by her parents Royal and Marllys Cermak; her first husband, Russell Hochhalter; and one daughter, Molly Nelson.

Grateful for having shared in her life are her four children: LauraLea (Hochhalter) Johnson and her friend Dr. Terry Larsen of Huron, SD, Dale Hochhalter and wife Jessica of Sioux Falls, SD, Charla (Hochhalter) and her husband Chad Ewing of Madison, SD, and Dustin Carmody of Huron, SD; and her six grandchildren: Shane Leichtenberg, Larry Johnson and fiancé Hannah Hirsch, Orion Hochhalter, Zen Carmody, and Jace and Journey Skinner.

LeaEtta is also survived by her siblings; Janice Cermak-Sandmeier, Nancy and her husband Roger Semmler, Sandra Cermak, Gary Cermak and his wife Eloise, and Marcia and her husband David Brown; and several nieces and nephews.