July 17, 1959 ~ February 29, 2020

Duane C. Froke, 60, Sioux Falls, died at the Veterans Hospital, Sioux Falls and was received into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, February 29, 2020.

A Celebration of Duane’s life will take place at 11:00am on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Assembly of God Church, Brandon, SD.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 10-11am. With Full Military Honors following. Inurnment will be held at a later date.

Duane Curtis Froke was born on July 17, 1959 to Curtis and Thelma (Whitted) Froke, in Huron, South Dakota. As a child Duane was not allowed to crawl around the family’s café, so he would rock in his little chair watching everyone busy taking care of the customers.  Duane was always paying attention to what was happening and soon learned to mimic his father’s ways of being a “joker”.

Duane always had a joke to tell, sometimes they were not what one would consider fit for children. He was a very social man, often being the “life of the party” and being the last to leave. Duane spent a great deal of his time perfecting his guitar playing and singing. He even recorded his music. His love for music didn’t stop with playing and singing, he loved to dance, and was quite good at it.                  

Duane and his two brothers often enjoyed motorcycle riding together.  One motorcycle trip was to Willow Lake to visit their parents. During the trip Duane led the way for his brothers. He struck a pheasant with the mirror of his bike causing his brothers to have to ride through a cloud of feathers. This was not the only type of leading Duane did for his brothers. They both followed his lead in life and into the Marine Corp. Duane spent twenty-one years in the Marines. He was stationed in Okinawa, Egypt, Korea, California, Virginia, Arizona and Missouri. While in the Marines he received many awards including letters of appreciation, certificates of commendation and a good conduct medal. Duane finished his military career as a recruiter after being a motor transport operations chief.

Duane married Tammi Topp in 2003 and to their union was born one son, Curtis. Although, they eventually divorced they remained friends. He loved spending time with his family and friends.

Duane will be deeply missed by his children, Curtis, Emma and Maddie; five siblings, Carolyn Johansen, Corson, Irene (Cliff) Vandeweerd, Sioux Falls, SD, David Froke, Humbolt, SD, Mary (Robin) Pruitt, Tea, SD, Darwin Froke, Hull, IA; his mother, Thelma Froke, Brandon; special friend, Jeannie, Sioux Falls; several nieces and nephews along with a host of friends.     

Duane was preceded in death by his father Curtis Froke

Online condolences at www.heartlandfunerals.com

June 8, 1935 ~ February 28, 2020

Lawrence M. Halbersma, 84, Brookings, formally of White, SD died Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Estelline Care Center, Estelline, SD.

Funeral Services will be 2pm, Thursday, March 5, 2020, at Heartland Funeral Home, with visitation beginning at Noon.  Inurnment will be in New Woodlawn Cemetery in Pipestone, MN, at a later date.

Lawrence Marion Halbersma was born on June 8, 1935 in Leota, MN to Martin and Jessie (Kots) Halbersma.  He was baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church.  He was the second youngest of 9 children.    He was raised on a farm near Pipestone, MN.  Lawrence attended elementary and high school in Pipestone, MN.  He worked at John Deere before he began farming.  On October 15^th, 1955, he was united in marriage to Barbara Powers at Zion Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD.  This union was blessed with four children Belinda, Kimberly, Timothy, and Julie.  Lawrence operated a dairy farm near Brookings for over 40 years.

Lawrence was raised in the Dutch Reformed Church and later joined Argo Lutheran Church WELS.  He Joined Mount Calvary Lutheran in Brookings, SD where he served as an elder.  He moved to Brandon, SD in 2002 and became a member of Blessed Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Lawrence’s hobbies included restoring John Deere farm equipment, attending tractor pulls, and going out to coffee with friends.  Lawrence also enjoyed helping build a church in Spencer, Iowa for Laborers for Christ.

Lawrence was married to Sharon Heldenbrand on January 10, 2009.  During his final illness, he lived at Trail Ridge Senior Living in Sioux Falls, SD, Edgewood Assisted Living in Brookings, SD and at Estelline Nursing and Care Center in Estelline, SD. 

Lawrence is survived by four children, Belinda (Daniel “Buck”) Crouse, Watertown, SD, Kim Halbersma, Brandon, SD, Tim (Cindy) Halbersma, Volga, SD, Julie (Dennis) Reuhl, Johnson Creek, WI; ten grandchildren, Tim and Mitch Crouse, Tarin and Matthew Obbink, Ashley Norgaard, Dianne,  Tony, Christopher, Steven, and Natasha Halbersma; two great-grandchildren, Neela Norgaard, David Halbersma; sister-in-law, Rozella Halbersma, Sioux Falls, SD; many nieces, nephews, and other friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and eight siblings, Elizabeth Uilk, Bernice Halbersma, Ellen Hubers, Luella Tuinstra, Harold Halbersma, Mary Boersema, Edward Halbersma, and John Halbersma.

July 15, 1933 ~ February 28, 2020

On February 28, 2020, Louella Jellema, 86, Brandon, was reunited with the love of her life, her parents, many friends and family members and was able to meet her Savior in Heaven, after complications from a stroke at the Sanford USD Medical Center, in Sioux Falls.

Visitation will be 5-7pm, Friday, March 6, 2020, at Heartland Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 10:00am, Saturday, March 7, also at Heartland Funeral Home.  Interment will be at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

Louella Rosemary Fedt, the oldest child and only daughter of Thomas and Mamie (Lahti) Fedt, was born on July 15, 1933. Growing up in Lake Norden, SD, she was very active in school, participating in band, theater and was a cheerleader at Lake Norden High School. She also loved singing and performing in choir. Louella and her brother, Darrell, would often perform duets. She was a self-taught musician and could play pretty much any instrument without a reading note. The accordion and piano where two of her favorite instruments which she still enjoyed playing. After one piano lesson, the piano teacher told her father that there was nothing he could teach her. She enjoyed spending time on her father’s farm and helping out at the café uptown.

After graduating high school, Louella worked as a bank teller in Chicago and Sioux Falls. While working in Sioux Falls, she met the love of her life, Donald Jellema. They married in 1953 and started their amazing 64 year journey in life together. As an army wife, Louella saw the world with her husband and family. In 1959, she made the difficult journey to Germany, to join him, traveling with their three children who were 6 months, 2 and 4 years old. Their travels brought them to Texas, New Jersey, Louisiana, Germany, Virginia, Chicago, Washington DC, Hawaii and back to South Dakota to retire near family.

Louella enjoyed being able to be home to raise her children while they were growing up. She did work outside of the home while in Chicago at Cid Air Structure where she made two very special lifelong friends, Pauline and Jack.  While in Hawaii, Louella took a cake decorating class which would lead a new and wonderful career. She taught cake decorating over the years and built quite a business from her home after moving to Brandon. Many people may not have recognized her name, but sure knew who the cake lady was!!! She was honored when Governor George Mikkelson, after tasting her cake, asked her to do his inauguration cake if he was elected. He was. And she did. Also, while in Brandon, she was excited to be able to return to her first career of being a bank teller for a few years.

Over the years, Louella was active in the PTA, NCO Wives Club, Republican Woman’s Club, The Garden Club at Bethany Meadows, Daughters of Norway and volunteered as a pianist at Helping Hands, Bethany Meadows, Grace Community Church and the Union Gospel Mission. Over the years, she and Don along with family and friends, also played music together at several different functions and at one time went by the name The Last Resort. They played at a few political functions as well as at the Branding Iron in Brandon. She also enjoyed going to the spring musicals every year at BVHS.

Two of Louella’s passions were politics and her church. She volunteered for both, doing whatever she could. She worked at the polls for several years for every election and volunteered doing whatever she could to support her favorite candidates. She would even get her granddaughters involved. She and Don appeared in commercials for Senator Thune when he first ran for office. She walked the streets of Brandon with George Mikkelson when he first ran for governor and was able to shake President Reagan’s hand when he was visiting Sioux Falls. At Grace Community Church, she put the bulletins together each week, played the piano every Sunday, planned conferences and sang special music at church as well as at conferences. She loved the Lord and loved learning everything she could. She saw herself as a sponge soaking up the word of the Lord. She loved her church family very much and doing whatever she could to bring the word of the Lord to others.

Thankful for having shared her live are her 3 children, Joel (Wendy), Brandon, Kevin (Cheryl), Ft. Meyers, FL, and Laurel, Sioux Falls; three grandchildren, Joshua Bittner, Dell Rapids, Sondrae (Jacob) Spade, Garretson, and Ashley (Jeramiah) Zuraff, Brandon; and seven great-grandchildren Kailyn, Kylie, Arianna, Ellianna, Jackson, Nolan and Hadley; one brother, Darrell (Jean) Fedt; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

She is proceeded in death by her husband, her parents and her best friend of 40+ years Pauline Boland Evens. She and Pauline are sharing a Pepsi right now!!

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up for donations to Louella’s favorite charities.

September 23, 1929 ~ February 19, 2020

Anna Marie Brenden, 90, Sioux Falls, was received into the embrace of our Lord on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, after a brief battle with cancer.  She was a resident of Dell Rapids Nursing and Rehab at the time of her death.

Her cremains will reside in the Columbarium at Velda Rose United Methodist Church in Mesa, Arizona.  Memorial service arrangements are pending.  Please monitor Merlin’s Facebook page for updates.

Anna Marie Siebrands was born in Herman, Minnesota, on September 23, 1929, to George and Loretta Siebrands.  The family later moved to the Willow Lake area where she lived on a farm with her parents and three siblings.  After graduating from Willow Lake High School she briefly taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Vienna, South Dakota.

She married Merle Brenden on November 5, 1949.  After farming in the Willow Lake vicinity for several years, the couple moved to Sioux Falls in 1956.  Anna Marie worked part-time for Sunshine Foods while raising their family.  She and Merle moved to Lake Poinsett in 1975 where they owned and operated a car-crushing business.

After retirement, the couple divided their time between the Midwest (South Dakota/Nebraska) and Mesa, Arizona.  In 2000, they moved to Mesa full time.  In 2017, they moved to Rapid City and eventually returned to Sioux Falls a year later.  Anna Marie had been at the Dell Rapids facility for just under a week before her death.

Anna Marie will be remembered for her kindness to others, her dedication to family, and her devotion to her Christian faith.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Merle; three children, Nyla (Terry) Hostin of Mesa, Arizona; Merlin (Bonnie) of Valley Springs, South Dakota; and Connie (Marv) Harmsen of Gilbert, Arizona; 7 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, George Siebrands, Jr., Watertown, South Dakota; a sister, Ruth Brown, Hartford, South Dakota, and a host of other family and friends.

July 4, 1952 ~ February 22, 2020

Allen W. Kuhnert, 67, Brandon, died Saturday, February 22, 2020, at home in his sleep.

Memorial services will be 1pm, Thursday, February 27, 2020, at Heartland Funeral Home, with a visitation beginning at Noon.  Burial to follow at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery. The family encourages everyone to wear flannel shirts for the service in Allen’s memory.

Allen Wayne Kuhnert was born on July 4, 1952, to Orville and Betty (Schmidt) Kuhnert on the farm in rural Brandon, SD.  Allen was one of seven children.  He attended school in Brandon.  When he finished with school, Allen worked on to family farm for a few years before going to work for Luverne Truck Equipment.  After four years, he moved on the work for Skyberg Construction and Fencing where he worked for approximately 30 years before his health caused him to retire.

Allen was a quiet person who kept to himself but enjoyed being with his circle of friends and family.  During his younger years, he enjoyed going out to shoot pool with his friends and have a few brews.  Later, he spent many hours in his garden growing produce to take to his neighbors and family and canning for the winter.  He loved to have company over to hang out with and visit.

Allen will be deeply missed by his six siblings, Gloria Kelderman, Brandon, Jerry (Marie) Kuhnert, Valley Springs, Della (Mark) Wiese, Brandon, John (Sally) Kuhnert, Brandon, Jack Kuhnert, Brandon, and Donna (Marty) Barber, Brandon; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law, Butch Kelderman.

October 1, 1955 ~ February 18, 2020

Dana M. Larsen, 64, Brandon, died Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at the Dougherty Hospice Home in Sioux Falls.

Memorial Services will be 1:00pm, Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Heartland Funeral Home, with a visitation beginning at Noon.  Inurnment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery in Viborg, SD.

In lieu of flowers, Dana’s family requests memorials be given to the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society in her memory.

Dana Marie Larsen was born October 1, 1955, along with her twin sister, Debbie, in Viborg, SD and attended school in both Sioux Falls and Brandon before graduating from Brandon Valley High School as a member of the National Honor Society. Dana went on to study by attaining a BA in Business Administration at University of Sioux Falls, a Masters of Science in Information Systems at Dakota State University, and doctoral studies in Leadership at the University of St. Thomas. Dana was an Information Scientist with EROS Data Center for nearly 27 years, a Modeling and Data Analyst for Wells Fargo, and a Senior Programmer at Berkley Information Services. After Dana retired, she became a Substitute Teacher for the Sioux Falls School District. 

Dana loved to help people, and would go to any length she could for both strangers and friends alike. Her sparkling eyes and kind smile greeted anyone she met with a beautiful welcoming presence, and her hugs were legendary. She regularly volunteered in church and community settings, including teaching Sunday School and Confirmation classes, leading youth trips, serving as a child advocate through Sioux Falls CASA, providing emergency assistance for the American Red Cross, teaching Junior Achievement classes, helping with Habitat for Humanity projects, and serving as a Division Governor for Toastmasters International. She loved working alongside others to accomplish big projects, and could be counted on to lend a hand wherever and whenever it was needed. She was a dedicated member of several communities of faith: first as a young member of Brandon Lutheran Church, then at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church in Brandon, and most recently, at Messiah New Hope Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Her love of all living beings extended to animals as well. She was passionate about horses from a young age, as well as completely devoted to her rescue dogs throughout her life. 

Dana will be deeply missed by her daughter, Nicole Monahan, Columbus, OH; her step children from her second marriage, Jennifer (Matt) Croteau, Coon Rapids, MN, and Bryan (Misty) Nelson, Sioux Falls, SD; two sisters, Debbie Larsen, Plano, TX, and Allison (Skylar) Hiebert, Vancouver, WA; one aunt, Opal Larsen, Viborg, SD; and beloved friend Bill Reeder. 

Dana was preceded in death by her parents, Dewayne Larsen and Mary Lou (Hardy) Eckman. 

May 3, 1946 ~ February 15, 2020

Ronnie Gentry, 73, Brandon, SD, died Saturday, February 15, 2020, in Lennox, SD, after many years of illnesses due to agent orange exposure.

A Celebration of Ronnie’s life will take place at 6:00pm on Friday, February 21, 2020 at Hillcrest Baptist Church, Sioux Falls, SD. Visitation will be prior to the service from 5-6pm. Inurnment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery, in Kent, WA, on Friday, at 11:00am, February 28, 2020, with Full Military Honors.

Ronnie Dale Gentry was born on May 3, 1946 in Altus, Oklahoma. Ronnie met and married the love of his life, Kathleen, while he was preparing to go to Vietnam. They danced all night holding each other the night before he left. Ronnie and Kathleen had one daughter who has always been his girl. He spent many a night up with her.  Although he could be a bit ornery at times, his family has always been a very important part of his life.  He loved to spoil his daughter, but when his first grandchild Shelby came along, it was clear she would want for nothing. His grandson Eric, had a very special bond with him and there was nothing that could come between them. 

Ronnie loved to gamble!  Most any time, you might find him at a casino, a horse track, or playing cards in someone’s kitchen.  Poker was among his favorites, but he loved most all card games (Texas Hold’em). Joe and Angelo would play craps with him in Vegas which brought him great joy.  He never got wealthy, but sure had a lot of fun along the way.  Traveling around the country to see family kept Ronnie and Kathleen busy. In 2010, after Kathleen retired, the couple went on an amazing Alaskan cruise.  He also had a love for tinkering on old cars in his earlier years.   

Ronnie will be sadly missed by his wife, Kathleen, Brandon, SD; daughter, Jeannette Gentry, Graham, WA; two grandchildren, Shelby L. Gentry, and Eric L. Howard, Graham, WA; a brother, Cliff (Betty) R. Gentry, Federal Way, WA; sister-in-law, Sandi (Bill) Huggett, Brandon, SD; and several nieces and nephews.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents; and nine siblings, Judy, Perline, Carl, Bill, Donnie, Jerry, Larry, Steven, and Baby Girl.

May 1, 1954 ~ February 9, 2020

Donna A. Gorwill, 65, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in Sioux Falls, SD after a courageous battle with cancer.

Memorial Services will be 10:30 am, Friday, February 21st, St. John’s American Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD. A light lunch will be provided following the service. 

Donna A. Sauter was born May 1, 1954 to Floyd and Betsy (Moore) Sauter in Jacksonville, FL. Donna Married Tony Meckle in 1968, to this union, was born 3 children. The couple eventually parted but she always remained fond of him. She was married to Jeff Slayten for a short time. She worked various cashier and waitress jobs in Sioux Falls, SD. While working at Marlin’s Family Restaurant she met and later married Fred Gorwill.

Donna enjoyed going to Falls Park in downtown Sioux Falls with Fred and her grandchildren and later her great-grandchildren. She just loved the serenity of watching the water fall from the rocks and flow downstream. Donna and Fred enjoyed attending rodeo events whenever possible.  More than anything she enjoyed spending time with the children, quite often they would play Yahtzee. You could easily find her solving a crossword puzzle or watching an episode of Jeopardy.

Donna shared her voice with the congregation of St. John’s American Lutheran where she also participated in PLCA with Fred. She was always willing to help anyone in need. Her family was above and beyond most important to her. During the last few weeks of her life, she was still trying to make sure her family was taken care of even as she grieved the loss of her husband Fred who passed January 12, 2020.

Grateful for sharing her life are her children, Jodi Schilling, Lakeville, MN, April (Todd) Haugen, Mandan, ND, TJ (Shelly) Meckle, Bismark, ND; seven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren; five siblings, Rick (Stephanie) Sauter, Pensylvania, Cindy (Rick) Zumbaum, Minot, ND, Peggy (Tom) Schimelfenig, Carrington, ND, Rose (Bill) Pritchett, Emerado, ND, Helen Sauter (Randy Prosser), Jamestown, ND; God daughter Tana Galbreath, Steele, ND; God son Matthew Schimelfenig, Bowdon, ND.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; aunts and uncles; and her husband Fred Gorwill.

March 29, 1931 – February 8, 2020

Bradley Ray Lear of Western Comfort Apartments, Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2020, of a sudden medical illness.

The deceased requested no Funeral Services.

Brad was born March 29, 1931, at Springview, NE to Quentin and Bernadean (Riley) Lear.  He grew up on the family ranch.  He graduated from Springview High School.  He was Valedictorian in his class.  He married Shirley Lund on August 12, 1954, in Casetta, GA.

He earned his Doctorate of Education at the University of Nebraska and taught Education at the University of Huron, and the University of Sioux Falls.  Brad retired in the military.  He served during the Korean War.

Survivors include two children: Tim Lear, (special friend Dawn Bain), Sioux Falls, and Sue Lear, Redding CA.  He is also survived by his brother Delbert (Jan) Lear, Kearney, NE; his sister Bonnie (Pat) Murphy, NE; brother-in-law, Larry (Yvonne) Lund, Damascas, VA; his sister-in-law, Barb (James) Anstine, Walhalla, SC; his brother-in-law Rich (Dava) Lund, Sioux Falls; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins including Beverly Graber, Sioux Falls; and a host of other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Lund, his parents and grandparents.

Brad was friendly, outgoing, fun, had a great sense of humor, and loved life.  He was reflective and an avid reader as well.  He touched the lives of family and friends.  Brad will be missed by everyone who met him.

September 16, 1982 ~ February 12, 2020

Heather N. Bosman, 37, Brandon, was received into the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at the Ava’s House, in Sioux Falls, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Visitation with family present will be 2-4pm, Sunday, February 16, 2020, at Heartland Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 10:30am, Monday, February 17, at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.  Burial to follow in the Brandon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Brandon Elementary School or Peace Lutheran Preschool.

Heather Noel Jorstad was born September 16, 1982 in Sioux Falls to Duane and Marion (Iblings) Jorstad. She graduated from Washington High School and attended The University of Sioux Falls and Dakota State University. She worked at Peace Lutheran Church in the pre-school department for over 10 years.

On May 12, 2007, Heather married Dan Bosman at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. They moved to Brandon a couple years later.

Heather grew up in a family who revered God and faithfully worshiped. She was confirmed in 1999 at Hope Lutheran in Sioux Falls.  As a member of Abiding Savior Faith Lutheran her faith was very important to her and she made sure she passed that on to her children as she read them bible stories and prayed every night. She was able to assist in the care of her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Heather’s biggest accomplishments were her two sons, Carson and Hayden. She loved being a mommy. That was the role that she cherished the most. She enjoyed volunteering at Brandon Elementary School in her boys’ classrooms. She also loved cooking, baking, keeping a clean home and doing anything she could for her family. The fond memories of their trip to Disney World in 2019 will remain in their hearts forever.

Heather will be deeply missed by her husband, Dan; two sons, Carson and Hayden; parents Duane and Marion Jorstad, Sioux Falls; sister, Melanie (Doug) Corp, Sioux Falls; brother, Darin Jorstad, Sioux Falls; parents-in-law, Harlow and Cheri Bosman, Sheldon, IA; grandma-in-law, Wilma Grevengoed, Hull, IA; brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Kristin Bosman, Sioux Falls; seven nieces and nephews, Austin, McKenzie, Madelyn, Allyson, Aubrey, Ashley and Ian; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents.