May 15, 1947 ~ April 18, 2025

Arlen “Dutch” G. Te Slaa, 77, of Sioux Falls, died peacefully Friday, April 18, 2025, surrounded by his family, at the Dougherty Hospice Home in Sioux Falls.

A Graduation of Life will be 11am, Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, with family visitation beginning at 9am. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Zion Lutheran Foundation.

Arlen “Dutch” Gary Te Slaa was the fifth child born to Gerrit and Gertrude (Van Marel) Te Slaa at Hull, IA, on May 15, 1947.  He grew up on the family farm southeast of Hull and attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse, Capel # 4, located about 1.5 miles from the farm.  From the seventh grade on, he attended school in Sioux Center, IA. Arlen graduated from high school in May of 1965.  After not finding anything of interest at Northwestern College, he started his first job in the sales field, selling Wear-Ever cookware, in June of 1966. He worked with Wear-Ever for 11 years. Arlen continued in the sales profession until his retirement on May 31, 2021.  It was in these early days of his selling career that he was given the nickname of “Dutch”.

On April 27, 1968, Dutch married the love of his life, Carol Diane Horton.  This union was blessed by three children: Eric, Katrina, and Andrew.  Eric married Kattie Lail, and two boys, Miloh and Beck, were added to the family.  Katrina married Scott Anderson and gave them their first grandchild, Jake.  Andrew married Megan Lozano and their only granddaughter, Nina, resulted from that union.  In the 56 years since their marriage, nothing has given them more pride and satisfaction than their children and grandchildren.

In the working years after Wear-Ever, Dutch spent 22 years in the automobile business. He started and built a satellite television company, and he worked as a Territorial Manager for the National Federation of Independent Business. The position that gave him the most satisfaction was a ministry he helped start called Main Street Living.  He was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls and participated in many of their programs throughout the years.

Dutch will be deeply missed by his wife, Carol; son, Eric (Kattie) Te Slaa, Sioux Falls, daughter, Katrina (Scott) Anderson, Sioux Falls, and son, Andrew (Megan) Te Slaa, Ft. Collins, CO; four grandchildren, Miloh and Beck Te Slaa, Jacob Anderson, and Nina Te Slaa; he was also grateful for his brothers, Cleo, Hull IA, and Norm (Cathy), Lakewood, CO; sisters, Dee (Clarence) Gorter, Sioux Falls, SD, and Sharon (Marv) Winkel, George, IA; brothers-in-law, Bruce Horton, Klamath Falls, OR, Terry (Jill) Horton, Canton, SD, and Kip Horton; sister in law, Jody (Terry) Leibel, Pierre, SD; and dozens of nieces and nephews from all over the United States, many who address him as “Uncle Dutch”.

Dutch was preceded in death by his parents, Gerrit and Gertrude Te Slaa; his brother and wife, Howard and Gertrude Te Slaa; and a sister-in-law, Joyce Te Slaa. his mother-in-law, Donna Drey, and fathers-in-law, Kenneth Drey and Howard Horton.

“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so, we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

November 28, 1946 ~ April 6, 2025

Thomas W. Szalat, 78, Brandon, SD, died Sunday, April 6, 2025, at his home from recent medical issues. No services are planned at this time.  Please check back for further updates.

May 16, 1961 ~ March 27, 2025

Joseph W. Sandoval, 63, Brandon, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, surrounded by his family.

A Celebration of Life for Joe will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Heartland Funeral Home, Brandon, SD. If we are blessed with your presence at Joe’s Celebration of Life, and in honor of Joe’s love for music, please dress in music/band attire – ‘no country music references allowed’. In lieu of flowers, please take an opportunity to spend time in the dirt or invest in your local seed bank or a community garden. Spend a day listening to music of the classic rock genre and think of how Joe would be sitting next to you, playing the air guitar. Donations can also be directed to the Brandon Food Pantry at 406 Main, PO Box 712, Brandon, SD, 57005, 605-582-7001, as they will miss the produce that Joe so willingly shared with them for many years.

You may view the service via livestream by clicking HERE.

Joseph “Joe” W. Sandoval was born to Joseph M.A. Sandoval and Gail (Gerry) Sandoval in Sioux Falls, SD on May 16, 1961.  Joe spent his early childhood years in the Sioux Falls, SD and Salem, SD areas before their family moved to Evansville, IN.  Joe lived in Indiana until graduating from high school and then decided it was time to ‘come back home’ to South Dakota.  Upon arrival in South Dakota, Joe wished to follow in his parent’s footsteps and attempted to join the Navy.  Much to his dismay, the Navy declined his admission, as well as every other branch of the military he contacted.  Since there were no active conflicts at that time, each branch of the service told him the same thing, “He was too tall and everything would have to be specially made for him”; and so, his military vision came to an end.

For anyone that knows Joe, knows that music was a deep passion of his.  If a song was playing, he would instantly ask, ‘who is this?’  Before you even knew it, your knowledge of music was being tested and a lesson in music would soon follow. Joe’s response would always be the name of the artist, the album in which the song was released, which side of the album the song played on, the numbered order on the album, the year it was released and any/all other information pertinent to the band/band members that had occurred since inception.  Joe and Louise enjoyed attending concerts and there were many long weekends traveling to see those concerts.

Gardening was also one of Joe’s deepest joys and he spent as much time as he could in the garden each year at the acreage of dear friends, Harvey and Teresa Freeman, who made his gardening dream come true for many years.  Joe was always so grateful to them and their generosity and considered them as a brother/sister.  Each year the garden was going to be “downsized” only to find out when everything was planted, it was bigger than the year before.  Gardening was Joe’s therapy and it was a normal day for Joe to spend 10-12 hours playing in the dirt, being in the bright sunshine with his music blasting.  When the day was over, he was always ready the next morning to do it all again.

Joe’s gardening was a neighborhood effort.  He collected everyone’s grass clippings in the summer and leaves in the fall as mulch for his garden. In return for taking away their yard waste, the neighbors were “required” to share in Joe’s bountiful harvest in the fall.  Many tried to pay Joe for his produce, but he refused saying, “I love to do this, and I don’t want it going to waste.”  By the end of the growing season, the neighbors had their fill of veggies for the year, and Joe then gave generously to the food pantry in town and supplied a local restaurant with many pounds of produce each fall.  If you lived nearby or walked past Joe’s house in the fall, you would often smell onions dehydrating in the garage, or the scent of salsa and tomatoes in the air as that was Joe’s busy canning season. When gardening was done in the fall and the canning finished for the year, it was time to start plotting next year’s garden and would start the next season’s seeds after the first of the year. There was never an idle moment when it came to gardening.  Joe enjoyed planting something new each year; there were very few vegetables that Joe didn’t try to grow.  He spent many hours watching videos and learning new/different ways of gardening. Many Sunday afternoons in the fall were spent watching football, cleaning black beans, and making salsa.  The last few years, Joe also made pasta sauce for his grandkids, which they proudly labeled “Papa’s Pasta Sauce”.

Joe worked in the trucking industry numerous years throughout his career and was actively involved in the South Dakota Trucking Association.  Joe took great pride in being part of that organization and was most recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement award from the SDTA.  Joe was also awarded Safety Director of the Year in 2009.  Joe retired in February 2024 and was able to spend the better part of last year dedicated to his garden.

To know Joe, was to love him – he has always been a gentle giant, willing to help out anyone in need and listen when you needed an ear.  We are all better for the impact he has had on our lives and it will be difficult trying to carry on without him.  Joe’s family, his children and grandchildren were his pride and joy.  Any day that he could talk to or see any one of them, made his day and put a smile on his face. 

To cherish his life and the many years of memories, Joe leaves behind his wife, Louise (Rostyne) Sandoval; daughter, Alison (Van) Lane, Omaha, NE; son, Joseph N. Sandoval, Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren Madison Lane and Jett Lane; sisters, Rebecca Sandoval, Medford OR, and Terry (Tony) Winkler, Evansville, IN; brother, Tom Sandoval, New Harmony, IN; aunts, Carol Wilcox, Sioux Falls, SD, and Harriett (Ken) Kutter, Sioux Falls, SD; special friends, Harvey and Teresa Freeman; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph M.A. Sandoval and Gail Sandoval; a sister, Patty Sandoval; both sets of grandparents; and special friend, Bernice Christopherson. Thank you to so many that have helped us through this trying time in our lives.  We truly have been very blessed with so many friends and family surrounding us with love and stories of Joe’s life. Joe’s wishes for his final resting place include his beloved garden that he cared for and loved for so many years, and one of his favorite hunting areas – Thunder Creek Pheasant Ranch in western South Dakota.

July 24, 1946 ~ February 18, 2025

Deacon Henry Joseph Knapp, 78, of Sioux Falls, died peacefully, on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital, with his family gathered around him. He was a committed, dedicated, and faithful Catholic husband, father, grandfather, friend, and deacon. Henry was always anxious to help people appreciate the real presence of Jesus in their lives. He sincerely tried to serve the Lord well in attempting to serve His people well.

Visitation will begin at 4pm, Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Church of St. Mary Immaculate Heart, Sioux Falls, with a Prayer Service at 5:30pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 4pm, Friday, February 21, 2025, also at the Church of St. Mary.

Henry was raised in Highland Falls, NY. After attending Catholic elementary school, high school, and college, Henry worked in the electric utility industry as an employee or consultant for some 40 years. Henry was a licensed professional engineer and occupied many responsible positions in the industry. He was ordained a deacon at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls by Bishop Paul Anderson on January 26, 1985. Henry ministered as a deacon at the Church of St. Mary in Sioux Falls and in various other areas outside the parish.

Henry will be deeply missed by his beloved wife, Christine, whom he married on November 30, 1968, at St. Joseph Church, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY; his son, Michael (Catherine); his daughter, Jennifer (Reynaldo) Gonzales; four grandchildren, Noah Knapp, Gabriel Gonzales, Rachel Knapp, and Jacob Gonzales; two brothers, Robert (Linda) Knapp and George (Barbara) Knapp; and several nieces and nephews.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Anna and Henry Knapp; and his many aunts and uncles.

December 30, 1947 ~ December 22, 2024

Helen N. Helm 76, Brandon, died peacefully, while surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at the Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls, after a long battle with emphysema and COPD.

Visitation will be 5-7pm, Thursday, December 26, 2024, at Heartland Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 10:30am, Friday, December 27, 2024, also at Heartland Funeral Home followed by Interment at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Sioux Falls. Helen appreciated the work done by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please consider a donation to St. Jude’s in her honor.

Helen Naomi Stadum was born on December 30, 1947, in Maddock, ND to Arthur (Art) and Ida (Hanson) Stadum. Helen graduated Valedictorian from Esmond High School in North Dakota. She moved to Sioux Falls in 1969 where she met Dave Helm in 1970. They married in 1975. She was a wife and mother for many years raising 8 children. She later became a supervisor at Luverne Truck for 26.5 years. 

Helen lived a life of compassion and had a helping heart. She would always see the best in each person and became a communal maternal figure to many kids over the years. Helen loved to read and could always be found with a book in her hand. She loved to spend time with her family and friends, and going on daily walks with her sister-in-law, Jeri, around Brandon. She had a love and passion for music: if you were to walk into the house at any given time of day, you would get to listen to Elvis, Everly Brothers, or songs from the 50s-60s.

Helen will be deeply missed by her daughter, Christina (Bruce) Crawford; sons, Tim (Naja) Lemke, Jon (Kim) Helm, Steve Helm, Clarence (Stephanie) Helm, Nathan (Amanda Biteler) Helm, and Patrick (Shannon Crowe) Helm; grandchildren, Katie (John) Aaberg, Jordan Page, Samantha (Dylan) Rouzer, Makenzie McGregor, Dylan (Chiara) Jasper, Jordan Crowe, Carys Helm, Ayda Lemke, Mila Lemke, Mia Helm, Shaylee Crowe-Helm, Zane Lemke, Aidan Helm, and Owen Biteler; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Atticus, Emmett, Allen, Rylan, Leo, and Luca;  one brother, Gary Stadum; and sisters, Janice Culp and Eileen Vetter.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Ida Stadum; her husband, Dave Helm; and her son, David (Davy) Helm.

September 17, 1939 ~ December 19, 2024

Karen Best had a restless energy, ever only operating at two speeds: on—and in a hurry—or off. It is with great sadness that we announce that she has switched to off mode one last time. Karen Best of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away quietly at home on Thursday, December 19, 2024, from complications related to heart disease. She was 85 years old.

A Celebration of Life for Karen will be held at 10:30am, at Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, on Saturday, January 4, 2025. To watch online by streaming, click here www.peacelutheran.com/live . In lieu of memorials, the family requests that folks carve out a moment to buy a friend a coffee and share a memorable story about Karen.    

Born in Lake City, Iowa, on September 17, 1939, to Carl and Florence Vincent, she grew up a middle child in a farming family along with her five siblings. Despite her diminutive stature, she took pride in giving her two older brothers, Gene and Paul, a run for their money in whatever games or activities they engaged in, and she delighted equally in being the bossy older sister to Mary and Patricia. All five doted on the energetic rascal of the group, their youngest brother, Steven.

Karen attended Lake City area schools, graduating in 1958. During high school, she played half-court Iowa-brand girls’ basketball and worked as a soda jerk at a local drug store as well as a clerk at the local grocery store. She married Jim Best on December 6, 1958, and welcomed a daughter, Dee, the following year. The couple lived at several places in the area before settling in Lytton, Iowa, where Karen operated a beauty parlor out of their home for many years while Jim worked at the local grain elevator. It was in these years that both Karen and Jim took up golf, which became a life-long hobby for both.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Jim was offered different opportunities to manage elevators, and the couple followed these opportunities. From Hills, Minnesota—at which time their family grew to include a son, Dan—to stops in Red Oak (Iowa), Storden (Minn.), and Marion (So. Dak.), Jim worked the elevators while Karen worked as a mother, at a fabric store, and as a bookkeeper. It was also during this time that she started to find success on local golf courses. She won her first of four club championships in 1977 followed by wins in 1985, 1986, and 1990 across three different country clubs.

In the late 1980s and into the 1990s, Jim’s career pivoted to insurance, and Karen joined him for several years as an agent after moving back to Storden. True to her restless and tireless nature, Karen switched up careers to become a travel agent in the early 1990s as the couple moved to Marshall and Lake Benton in Minnesota before eventually settling for good in Sioux Falls in the late 1990s. In Sioux Falls, Karen shifted careers once again, working first as a bank teller and then in operations for local banks. She finished out her work career back in the insurance business as an agent at Best Insurance along with her husband and daughter, before they sold the business and retired in 2014.

Karen had an active retirement and was fortunate to spend her last several winters at a small townhouse the couple purchased at Sun Village in Surprise, Arizona. It was in Surprise that she took art classes and developed impressive skills in watercolor painting and chalk drawings. Golf continued to be her favored form of activity, and after so many years of close calls, she recorded her first and only hole-in-one at the age of 83.

Karen is survived by her husband of 66 years, Jim Best; daughter, Dee (Bruce) Swenson, Sioux Falls; son, Dan (Sarah) Best, Shorewood, Minn.; granddaughters, Courtney Swenson, and Molly Best; and great-grandsons, Adam Swenson and Declan Swenson.

Karen was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Rachel Best; her parents; and her brothers, Paul Vincent and Steven Vincent.

Karen’s greatest joy in life was in time spent with family—especially her granddaughters and great-grandsons. In moving more than two dozen times over the years, Karen and Jim owned 12 different houses, and the many moves brought into their lives new adventures and wonderful friends whom Karen always enjoyed visiting with, particularly over a hand of cards. Karen is remembered by those closest to her as a curious and tenacious soul and a person unafraid to speak her mind while always thoughtful of others. To family members, she was their most enthusiastic supporter, and her energy, love, and loyalty will be sorely missed.

April 12, 1965 ~ December 9, 2024

Kim M. Yager, 59, Brandon, died Monday, December 9, 2024, at her home unexpectedly.

Private family services are planned for later this week.

Kim Marie Yager was born on April 12, 1965, in Sioux Falls, SD to Jack Yager and Bonnie Savold. She was raised in Sioux Falls and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1983. Kim most recently worked at Grand Living at Lake Lorraine.

Kim was loved by many and will be missed tremendously. She was a friend to everyone she met and for those that truly had the honor of knowing her, knew that she had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. Kim cherished her family and looked forward to attending the many family dinners and birthday celebrations that went on throughout the year. She found immense joy in spending time with her nieces, Michelle and Katie, and her nephew, Josh. She was an avid animal lover.

Kim is survived by her father, Jack (Julene) Yager; mother, Bonnie (Denny) Savold; two sisters, Lisa (Jon) Yager, and Jessica (Stew) Savold; three brothers, Terry (Kimberly) Brower, James (Sherry) Alberts, and Shane (Amy) Alberts; stepbrothers, Chad (Brandi) Reimer, and Jeremy (Sheila) Reimer; stepsister, Monica Reimer; beloved nieces, Michelle (Brandon) Hildebrand, and Katie (Alex) Madsen; beloved nephew, Josh (Yodit) Madsen; special uncles, Frank Yager, John Yager, and Randy Reed; special cousin, Deb Johnson; life-long friend, Coralee Patch Multerer; and many more beloved family.

Kim was preceded in death by her beloved dogs, Shadow and Haley.

April 22, 1970 ~ December 2, 2024

Marnie G. Mitchell, 54, Sioux Falls, passed away at her home on Monday, December 2, 2024. 

A Celebration of Life will be 5-7pm, Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at Heartland Funeral Home, with a short Service at 6:30pm. Interment will be 11am, Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at Plainview Cemetery, rural Brentford, SD.

Marnie Grace Mitchell was born on April 22, 1970, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Rick and Sylvia (Bebo) Mitchell. Marnie graduated from Doland High School in 1988.  Upon graduation, she attended Stewart School of Hairstyling in Aberdeen, SD. After working in hairstyling for some time, Marnie found her real passion as a caregiver, working as a CNA, then furthered her career as an LPN, after receiving her education from Lake Area Technical Institute, in Watertown, SD. In later years, Marnie worked as a bartender and cook at various locations and most recently she was the “meal maker extraordinaire” at Inspire Daycare in Tea, SD.  

Marnie was married to Shane Fortin and from this union, Matthew was born and Shane adopted Sam.  Her boys were the light of her life. Marnie would give the shirt off her back to see that others had what they needed and help in any way that she could. She had countless friends that she met through her schooling, work, and playing darts. She had a knack for arts and crafts, but her favorite was painting.  Marnie always claimed she inherited this talent from her very cherished Grandma Grace. Marnie was an avid reader and loved many of her Netflix series. 

Marnie is survived by her children, Sam (Kailey) Mitchell, Harrisburg, and Matthew Fortin, Doland; her beloved granddaughter, Layla Grace; her mom, Sylvia Bebo, Tea; siblings, Marvin (Denise) Mitchell, Redfield, and Roberta “Bobbi Pat” Hindberg, Tea; and step-brother, Danny Stickler, FL; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and countless friends.

Marnie was preceded in death by her father, Richard “Rick” Mitchell; step-father, Doug Stickler; grandparents, Marvin “Chappy” and Grace Bebo, grandpa, Robert Mitchell, Sr; and step-brother, Doug “Bubba” Stickler. 

July 19, 1957 ~ November 20, 2024

Randy E. Oien, 67, Sioux Falls, passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation will be 5-6:30 pm, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon. Funeral Services will begin at 6:30 pm. Burial will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Spencer, SD.

Randy E. Oien was born on July 19, 1957, in Dell Rapids, SD, to Otto and Bernice (Nyhus) Oien. He attended school in Baltic and Dell Rapids, where he graduated. Randy married Kimberly Gukeisen on April 15, 2007, and together, they shared 18+ years of magical love while residing in Sioux Falls.

Randy held numerous jobs throughout his life but worked at RL Insulation for 22 years. He had many interests, including throwing darts, watching basketball, and cheering for the Green Bay Packers. However, his greatest joy came from attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and spending time with family. Randy also enjoyed working on puzzles, and seeing his grandchildren gathered around the table, each with a puzzle piece in hand, always brought a radiant smile to his face.

Randy was a quiet, hardworking man with a kind and gentle spirit. He was always unselfish and cared deeply for everyone around him.

Randy is survived by his wife, Kim Oien, Sioux Falls; his children, Jesse (Paige) Oien,  Sioux Falls, Melissa (Sunny) Dahn, Surprise, AZ, Nicole (Kevin) Fultz, Wittmann, AZ, and Justin Hoffman, Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Ciana, Lilianna, Channing, Trenton, Lincoln, Samielia, Brennley, Cameron, Aubrielle, and Micaiah; two sisters, Vicky Myran, Sioux Falls and Marcy (Dave) Linton, Baltic, SD; and by many other relatives and friends.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Bernice Oien;  and brothers, Terry Oien, AZ, and Ritchie Oien, Baltic, SD.

July 22, 1946 ~ November 20, 2024

Charlotte “Char” A. Rottluff, 78, Alcester, died Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Alcester Care Center, after a prolonged illness.

A visitation will be held 1-3pm, Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Heartland Funeral Home, with a short service beginning at 2:30pm. Inurnment will be at a later date at St Andreas cemetery in Oldham, SD.

Charlotte “Char” Ardell Nelson was born July 22, 1946, to Irene Nelson near Irwin, SD. She grew up with her mother on the family farm north of De Smet, SD. She also spent much time with Grandma Lillie and Grandpa Carl, who lived nearby.

Charlotte graduated from Erwin High School in 1964 and attended business school in Huron, SD. She worked as a secretary and at other jobs while raising her daughters, Vickie and Laura.

Char was a free spirit and lived in many different areas. She spent time in Washington state, California, Idaho, and Minnesota. In later years, she lived in Oklahoma and New Mexico with her husband Ron. But they always came back home to South Dakota. Char and Ron enjoyed traveling to and participating in flea markets, liked antiquing, and spending time with family and friends.

Charlotte had a strong faith in the Lord which got her through the hard and good times. She helped at many churches with different roles, but her favorite was Sunday School, VBS, and adult devotions. She attended church in any area she lived and loved sharing the teachings of God by word and deed. She had many friends here and in other places, she lived.

Charlotte will be deeply missed by her daughter, Laura Clark (Amy Mathiason); stepdaughter, Karie Rottluff; her grandchildren, Jonathon and Amber Dennis, and Bryan (Rose) Clark; step-grandchildren, Tasneem, and Amir (Allison) Rottluff; great-granddaughters, Cara Dennis, Anastasia, and Ezmerelda Clark; her sister, Sharon (David) Lundquist Foesch; several nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Charlotte is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Rottluff; her daughter, Vickie Dennis; and her mother, Irene Lundquist.