LaQuita passed away at age of 90 on November 14, 2024, at Brookings Peaceful Pines Senior Living with her husband Arnold Olson at her side. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 23rd at Eidsness Funeral Home.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

LaQuita was born March 15, 1934, in Vermillion, SD to Lenord Kenneth and Sophie Edna Bergetta (Berkelo) Simons. LaQuita enjoyed her life at their lake home on Lake Campbell, SD. She was strong in her Christian faith.  She loved cooking, gardening, cats and most of all her children and grandchildren.

She married Norbert Syrstad in January 1949, and raised six children from their union. LaQuita and Norbert farmed near Revillo, SD. She married Richard Lee Riffel in December 1969, and raised one child from their union. LaQuita and Richard lived in Brookings where she worked at the SDSU Physical Plant for many years as a secretary. She was widowed in September 1980. She lived in Honolulu, HI for several years before moving to Albuquerque NM. While living in Albuquerque, she put an ad in a singles magazine and met her great love, SMSGT USAF Arnold Eugene Olson. LaQuita and Arnie married December 16, 1996 and soon moved back to Brookings where they purchased their lake home at Lake Campbell. She held a Masters degree in counseling and worked at SDSU as a mental health therapist until her retirement at 71.

LaQuita is survived by her husband, Arnie and her seven children; Cheri (Alan) Monteith of Carlsbad, NM, Wendy (Joe) Ulmer of Centerton, AR, Gaylord (Pam) Syrstad of Arlington, SD, Robert (Sandy) Syrstad of Mitchell, SD, Michael (Vivian) Syrstad of Lake Campbell, SD, LaQuita "Lolly" Lombard of Lake Campbell, SD and Kenneth (Lenore) Riffel of Brookings SD. LaQuita is survived by 23 grandchildren and too many to count great-grandchildren. She had a big heart and lots of love for all.

LaQuita was preceded in death by her parents, Lenord and Sophie, her siblings Kenneth Simons, Jeanette Hanneman, Sandra Skyberg, Rodney Simons and her late husband Richard Riffel. Fun fact; LaQuita's mother Sophie descended from English and Scandinavian nobility so their lines can be traced back to 1300 AD.