Autumn Spletto, age 66, of Madison, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Thursday, August 28, 2026.
A Celebration of Life remembrance service will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, September 3rd on the shores of Lake Madison at David & Autumn Spletto residence located at 118 Woodland Dr., Madison. Her family will be carrying out her wishes for her final resting place in the Black Hills at a later date.
Autumn Marie Yungwirth was born August 19, 1960 in Redfield, SD, the daughter of James & Mary Jo (Thorson) Yungwirth. Her childhood was filled with playful memories that she shared with her siblings and family on the vibrant rural farm where she was raised. She often recalled past adventures of her and her brothers fishing, riding bicycles down dirt roads, picking vegetables from their mother’s garden and climbing silos and creating other mischief. As a young child she attended Mountain 11 School in Zell, SD. During her high school years, she became a mother and welcomed her first son Christopher into the world, July, 1976. Autumn graduated from Redfield High School in 1978. Shortly after, her second son, Robert, arrived, Sept. 1978.
Autumn ventured her way to North Dakota in her early 20’s where she went on to work at Kristi Floral in Dickinson, ND as a floral designer following in the footsteps of her mother. There she met her husband Dave, where they were married on October 1, 1985. With the joining of two families, Autumn welcomed Dave’s daughter Christy into her life. Shortly after marriage, Dave and Autumn’s work travels took them to Rock Springs, WY. There, they welcomed a daughter April in Oct 1986.
Autumn and Dave arrived in Watford City, North Dakota in November 1986, where they established Frontier Wellhead and Supply Company. Her role as vice president, was focused on financial and administrative organization, helping her husband in the triumphs and trials of their oilfield industry business. For the next 24 years, Autumn called Watford City home where she found joys and comforts in her own home, family, and her community. Many summer days were spent at Lake Sakakawea soaking up the sun with beach and boating adventures. She was an avid fitness enthusiast where you could often find her walking around town, hiking in nearby Theodore Roosevelt National Park or attending weekly bowling league. Autumn would often help at the local floral shop, a job that filled her creative bucket and provided opportunity for cherished connections.
Autumn’s love of her home state led them to the Black Hills, where they built a beautiful residence in Spearfish Canyon, SD. Endless adventures from hiking, four wheeling, gold mining and helping in the venture of her husband’s rock shop in Spearfish Canyon were unforgettable moments shared.
Autumn and Dave decided it was time to retire and sell their business in 2010, where they found their way to Madison, SD to bring their lives closer to family and grandchildren. They continued to travel between their SD homes and wintered to Sanibel Island Florida annually for 15 years, a very special place to the both of them. Several years were spent RVing together, traveling across the US and seeing new sites. Autumn and Dave spent several years enjoying a business venture in Spearfish Canyon where she was the head of retail and design, in addition to supporting her husband’s rock shop and gem and mineral shows that they attended.
Above all, Autumn loved being with her family and pets traveling to Montana and North Dakota often to see her kids and grandkids. Autumn will be remembered for her love of traveling, photography, home design, gardening and her dogs. Her happy place was the outdoors, spending time with her family as often as she could, especially her grandchildren. Her nurturing and selfless nature was present and visible to all.
Those that are left to mourn are her husband, David; two sons, Christopher (Nicole) Gabriel and Robert Gabriel; two daughters, Christy Spletto and April Spletto; six grandchildren, Ashton Gabriel, Alayna Geiger, Christian Gabriel, Logan Geiger, McKenna Goodman and Marshall Spencer and two brothers, Dennis & Joseph Yungwirth and several nieces & nephews, her golden retriever, Winnie and too many close loved ones to name.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Patrick Yungwirth; sister, Cynthia Yungwirth, step-brother, Troy Crandall, uncle, Cecil, and dogs, Karlie, Lily and Anna.
In place of flowers, the family is requesting a donation of your choice to be made to the Western Hills Humane Society in Spearfish, SD the ASPCA, or by planting a tree in your local community in memory of Autumn.
May her spirit and passion for life live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
