Starla Wager
September 17, 1965 ~ July 25, 2023
Starla Wager, 57, of Seneca, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Faulkton, with Father John Short presiding. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Orient. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at the church.
Starla Kay Boke, daughter of Gail (Jacobson) and Howard Boke, was born at the Gettysburg Memorial Hospital on September 17, 1965. She was raised in Gettysburg alongside her two younger sisters: Suzanne and Andel.
Starla graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1983. She was active in Girl Scouts, FHA, mixed chorus, girl’s glee and drill team. She attended a semester at Northern State University for computer science. When she felt that wasn’t the path for her, she returned home to continue working as a cook at the Gettysburg Manor.
She met the love of her life, Duane Wager, on a night out in Gettysburg. They were married on October 25, 1986, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. The newlyweds made their home on Duane’s family farm south of Seneca. They welcomed their daughter, Talisa, in 1991 and son, Dylan, in 1994.
After an employment break to raise her children, Starla started working at Faulkton Senior Living. She was the lead cook. For 23 years, she was a very devoted, reliable employee who would often stay at the nursing home during blizzards to ensure meals were prepared.
Outside of work, Starla was an active member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Seneca. She taught CCD classes and helped in the kitchen during church events. She also participated in several Easter Seals “For Women Only” rides, which raised money for children with disabilities. She looked forward to the ride every year and loved taking the kids out on snowmobile.
Starla was a social butterfly who loved visiting with old friends and meeting new people. Her most treasured moments were spent riding motorcycle with her husband (they were looking forward to Sturgis), camping, snowmobiling, attending concerts, and traveling. Some of her favorite trips were to Mexico with her husband and a dear group of friends. She also loved the South Dakota State Fair, especially during the years her children showed livestock. She loved Siamese cats, diet coke, a glass of cheap wine, and a round of margaritas.
Starla will forever be loved by her husband of 36 years, Duane Wager; daughter, Talisa (Aaron) Buchholz of Tulare and son, Dylan Wager (fiance Megan Swedeen) of Seneca; mother, Gail Boke of Pierre; sisters, Suzanne (Earl) Voeller of Rapid City and Andel (Heith) Petersen of Pierre; sisters-in-law, Brenda (Doug) Hogg and Starla (Dennis) Volk; nieces: Falyn (Perry) Hempel, Kayla Petersen, and Abby Voeller; and nephews: Cole (Morgan) Hogg, Slayte Petersen, Trae Petersen, and Sean Voeller.
Those greeting her in heaven include her grandparents; father, Howard Boke; aunt, Eileen Worth; uncle, Gene Boke; and great nephew, Kilian Hempel.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Starla’s arrangements.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Gail and Families ~
I'm at a loss for words!
I've been sooo Thankful that God brought Mom and Starla together for Mom's last few months.
We all so enjoyed when Starla could stay a while after work.
My heart breaks for ALL of you ~ even more so that your pain of losing Howard is sooo fresh.
Sending HUGE HUGS across the miles.
May God Wrap ALL of You in His Blessings and Bring Your Hearts Peace. 💜🙇🏻♀️🤗💜
((Due to the heat, will her services be live streamed?))🙇🏻♀️💜
Our hearts are broken at the sudden loss of Starla. All of Starla’s family and extended family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers. May they bring you comfort and peace. In Deepest Sympathy,
So sorry to hear about Starla. I have worked with her for many years at the Nursing Home. We are going to miss her
All my thoughts and prayers go out to Starla's family. Starla was a wonderful and caring person.
I am saddened and shocked at the news of Starla's passing.
Keeping you all in my prayers.
Like everyone we are shocked and saddened by Starla's loss. She was like another sister to me! We first hung out back in the early 80's and went to a dance in Selby – she loved rock-n-roll bands! Starla taught me about red beers. Over the years, it's been a pleasure to see her marry and raise a family. She urged me to come to their place to hunt and since then we have had so many great times. It was fun to catch up when we she was there. I always liked to hear about the adventures she and Duane had away from the farm on vacation in the Hills, Mexico, Las Vegas or to a concert somewhere. She was a great person and we will all miss her more than i have words to express. We all love you Starla!
My heart and prayers are with you ❤️❤️❤️💕😭
My heart hurts for you. I was so sad to hear of your loss. And to have lost Howard not so long ago. My heart breaks for you and your family.
Your in my thoughts and prayers.🙏Hugs Gail. Kim
She is and always will be a great lady. In the short time I knew her, she always treated me as family. Pheasant hunting will never be the same. She will truly be missed.
So so so sorry to hear about Starla. This is so hard to wrap my head around and to even believe it. So many prayers and thoughts are with all of you at this time. Just know God is with her now and she is flying high above you watching over all of you.
Sorry for your loss
Starla, how you will be missed!!! I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you left us so suddenly! Only God knows why this was your time to go, and i will cherish all of the memories of you that were made. Sept. 17th—(our birthdays), will be missing you deeply! May God embrace your families, and give them strength and comfort. I hope you and your Dad are reunited and rejoicing together. You are loved!❤
You will be missed
I am so sorry to hear of Starla's passing. She had the kindest heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. Those who knew her are truly blessed. Rest in Peace My Sweet Friend. I love and miss you.
I was saddened to read today of the passing of Starla. I met Starla, her husband and friends in the Bahamas in 2017, I was dining by myself and she invited me to join them. It turned out to be one of my best memories of meeting new people. We laughed all night and Starla made me feel very welcomed, she invited me to join them the next day for drinks. We kept in touch via social media over the years and she made me feel like a close friend, even though we only met once. "Truly one of a kind person" My sympathy to her family.
I was shocked and saddened to see that Starla had left this earthly world way too soon. She was truly the kindest, sweetest, most non-judgmental person. My most sincere sympathies to Duane, Gail and all her family and friends.
Heaven has definitely gained angel. Fly high sweet classmate!
I would like to extend my sympathy to both the Wager and Boke family. I taught with Gail and had Starla as a student in Gettysburg.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We will be sending a 20 dollar memorial to the Tulare United Church in your mother's honor.
So very sorry to hear of Starla's passing. She was such a kind person who will be missed dearly. May she rest in eternal peace.
Sorry for your loss!! Love you all!! Thanks for all the memories!!
We are saddened to hear of the loss of Starla. She has shared smiles with many people and remains a kind soul.
Praying: Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. May the soul of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
It was sad news to hear Starla passed away and my thoughts and prayers goes out to the family and friends. I will miss the smile and conversations when visiting the family farm. RIP!
Starla, you are greatly missed. I have enjoyed our laughs and snowstorm adventures. Prayers to the family during this time.
I am so deeply sorry and sadend by the loss of Starla. I remember when you used to come to our house in Onaka to visit. No one ever walked away from Starla and not consider her as another friend. I would occasionally see her in Pierre. Duane, may the prayers of friends help you thru these difficult days. 🙏🙏🙏
I am so sorry to hear about Starla. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends at this time.
My thoughts n prayers are with you all at this time Starla willbe missed im glad I got to see her two wks ago n get a hug a lot of memories with her god bless n hugs to all
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family…may Starla rest in peace!
Will miss you terribly! You were an amazing woman with a kind heart! You were taken too early. Sturgis will never be the same.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Deepest condolences goes to Talisa and all the loved ones. Starla was a very kind and down to earth lady.
One memory I have is Startla taking a few of us FHS 2009 girls to the circus for Talisas birthday back in grade school