On January 5, 2026, Helen Lucille Hand, also known as Lucy, passed away at McKinley Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from stage 4 ovarian cancer and other complications.
Her parents, who have already passed, were Charles and Opal Smith from Galt, Missouri. Lucy was born on June 8, 1955, in Milan, Missouri. In 1973, at the age of 18, she married Wiley C. Hand Jr. from Hope, Arkansas. Wiley was born July 14, 1955. Their marriage lasted 53 years to this day.
Lucy and Wiley lived in Peterson, Iowa, from 2021 to 2026, enjoying retirement. Lucy’s work history involved working in a nursing home, helping people to cope and enjoy their last days. Lucy enjoyed her simple life, just being around her kids and grandkids. She had a passion for going to Las Vegas on her vacations, and she went 11 times.
We will all miss her as she leaves behind her two sons, Bryan and Angel; her daughters-in-law, Heidi and Cathy; and her husband, Wiley Hand. And let’s not forget her grandkids: Jacob, Jeremy, Kathryn, Sandi, Salvedin, Mykuya, Alex, Keagan, Chris, Nick and Nicki.
Service pending.
