May 11, 1937 ~ June 8, 2018

Eleanor L. Weeg, 81, Sioux Falls, passed away peacefully Friday, June 8, 2018, at home with her family by her side.

Eleanor is survived by her seven children, Dale (Georgette), Ricky (Colleen), Tony, Randy, Pennee (Richard), Sherry (Dale), and Christy (Jane); seventeen grandchildren; thirty-eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy and Lynda.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Dale; sister, Dona; and her parents.

Family will meet at North Cherry Rock Park in Sioux Falls, for a Celebration of Life from 1-3pm, Monday, June 11,2018.

October 29, 1932 ~ June 2, 2018

Hedy Sophia Swenson, 85, Brandon, died Saturday, June 2, 2018, at her home.

Visitation with family present will be 5-7pm, Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Heartland Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11:00am, Friday June 8, at Heartland Funeral Home, with visitation beginning one hour prior. Interment will follow at Beaver Valley Lutheran Cemetery.

Hedy Sophia Dementevas was born October 29, 1932, in Lithuania, to Alexander and Joanna (Wisenberg) Dementevas. At a very young age Hedy escaped from the Communists and Nazis and lived in a survivor placement camp in Germany. Hedy was able to travel to the United States as a teenager and settled at DeSmet, SD with her brother before moving to the Brandon area and marrying Eugene Swenson. They settled on a family farm northwest of Corson, SD. The couple had three daughters and Hedy worked very hard to raise them and work as a homemaker, gardening and vegetable planting on their farm. When the children were finally raised and in school, Hedy went to work for several different organizations, in the kitchen has a salad maker at the Brandon Steakhouse, the Corson Cafe, Citibank’s employee kitchen, and eventually went to work at ESI or Electronics Systems Incorporated where she manufactured circuit boards in the assembly line. This experience taught Hedy a great self worth for a person who never finished high school but was very determined to know how to speak and write in English. This was a job beyond all comprehension.

Hedy’s love for her family was endless. Although she believed that everyone must work for everything and earn it, she was also very generous and helping anyone who needed something. She enjoyed gardening; flowers of every type bloomed around her home. She still loved to raise vegetables and canned and make sure everyone had plenty of preserves.

Hedy’s faith was so important to her, having escaped from Nazi Germany. She maintained her faith when she migrated to the United States. She was a very active member of the Beaver Valley Lutheran Church and the Swedona Covenant Church. Her wish was for everyone to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to share in the glory of God’s love.

Hedy is survived by her three daughters, Ingrid Briggle, Lennox, Donna (Jay) Schwartz, Brandon, and Marilyn (J.) Patzig, Sedona, AZ; seven grandchildren, Theresa (Adam) Aberle, Huntsville, AL, Amy (Matt) East, Lennox, Joe Schwartz, Brandon, Jenna (Ruben) Sanchez, Stephenville, TX, Jane (Jon) Grieme, Commerce City, CO, and Jackson Schwartz, Austin, TX, Mandy Aslesen, Mesa, AZ; eleven great-grandchildren, Austin, Alex, Aaron, Devin, Lexi, Madi, Carter, Braeden, Ava, Emma Jane and Owen; sister, Olga Nenortas, Cherokee, IA; one niece, Sylvia Nenortas; and three nephews, Viktor, Alex and Gene Nenortas.

Hedy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; grandson, Jeremy Schwartz; son-in-law, Bill Briggle; brother, Alex Dementevas; and brother-in-law, Stacy Nenortas.

June 5, 1947 ~ May 7, 2018

Dan Lee Murphy, 70, Brandon, died Monday, May 7, 2018, as a result of a homicide while visiting friends in Brookeville, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore.

Visitation with Family will be 5-7pm, Friday, May 18, 2018, at Brandon Valley Assembly of God Church, with a time of sharing at 7pm.  A Celebration of Dan’s Life will be 10am, Saturday, May 19, At BV Assembly of God Church.  Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be given in Dan’s name to Brandon Baptist Church.

Danny Lee Murphy was born on June 5, 1947, in Winner, SD. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and then Winner Public High School where he graduated. He attended SDSU to study teaching. Dan started teaching 7th Grade English at Brandon Valley in 1969, retiring in 2004 after 35 years. He also worked during his spare time and in the summer as a contractor building and remodeling many homes in the Brandon area.

On October 15, 1980, Dan married Joan Kerslake in Sioux Falls. Dan and Joan began attending Brandon Valley Baptist Church in 1980. Dan was always the first one in the kitchen whenever there were treats and he loved the potlucks at church.

Dan was an avid fisherman and loved camping all over the state of Minnesota. Traveling was another of his favorite pastimes including the family’s yearly trip to Disney World and had traveled to Mexico, Canada, and every state in the U.S. except Alaska and Hawaii. Dan also took many tours with students and parents to Europe.

Dan will be deeply missed by his wife, Joan and son, Matt, both of Brandon; one sister, Patricia Hollenbeck, Sioux Falls; brother-in-law, Wayne Kerslake, Sioux Falls; one niece and three nephews, Katie (Andy) Abernethy, Wheaton, IL, Jay (Jody) Hollenbeck, Valentine, NE, Shawn (Mardee) Hollenbeck, Hutchinson, KS, and Christopher (Jessica) Kerslake, Chicago, IL; one aunt, Agnes Koos, Aurora, IL; and many, many cousins.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, George and Margaret (Speckman) Murphy; step-father, Alfred Koos; one sister-in-law, Gayle Kerslake; one nephew, Andrew Kerslake.

August 31, 1933 ~ May 6, 2018

Ed Lens, 84, Brandon, formerly Valley Springs and Beaver Creek, died Sunday, May 6, 2018, at the State Vets Home in Luverne.

Visitation with family will be 5-6:30pm, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Risen Savior Catholic Church in Brandon, with Scripture Services and a Rosary Prayer at 6:30pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am, Friday, May 11, also at Risen Savior followed by Full Military Honors. Inurnment will be at Holy Name Catholic Cemetery in Rock Rapids.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Edward John Lens was born August 31, 1933 on a farm near Larchwood, IA, to Charles and Agatha (Underberg) Lens. He attended and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Larchwood. Ed then came to Sioux Falls to work for John Morrell’s before and after enlisting in the Army and serving during the Korean War. He worked on the beef kill line for more than 18 years.

On August 20, 1957, Ed married Patricia Brandt in Rock Rapids. The couple resided in Sioux Falls. Ed and Patricia bought a farm near Valley Springs where they farmed for the next 35 years, raising cattle, hogs and harvesting grain. Ed was a member of the Rock County Pork Producers and the Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association. He had a supplemental painting business. In 2014, Ed and Pat moved to Brandon.

Ed was a very loving, caring, and gentle man with a great sense of humor. He had a big heart and would help anyone. He enjoyed his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much. Ed was a handyman who loved to build and tinker with things. He was very wise mechanically and very sharp with numbers. Ed loved to meet people and visit with them for hours. Ed and Pat went on many traveling endeavors, including camping throughout the country and traveling to Europe, Hawaii and Mexico.

Besides the cattle and hog associations, Ed was a long time member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Luverne and currently a member of Risen Savior Catholic Church in Brandon. He was also a very involved member of the Knights of Columbus.Ed was a long-time member of the Valley Springs American Legion and a life time member of the Luverne VFW.

Ed will be greatly missed by his wife of 60 years, Pat, Brandon; three children, Michael (Jeanne) Lens, Brandon, Kimberly (Bruce) Pedersen, Dakota Dunes, SD, and Kathleen (Jose) Nunez, Eagan, MN; seven grandchildren, Brock (Jessica) Tim, Amanda, Tony, Kaitlin, Leslie, and Nicole; three great-grandchildren, Hollis, Parker, and Baylor; and five siblings, Jim (Colleen) Lens, Burlington, IA, John Lens, Carmel, CA, Wayne Lens, Creston, IA, Dave Lens, Grand Junction, CO, and Alice (Gerry) Moeller, Rock Rapids, IA; and two sister-in-laws, Karen Lens, Harrisburg, and Jane Albers, Rock Rapids, IA.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, and six siblings, Raymond, Leonard, Robert, Lavonne and two infants, Margaret and Charles.

May 12, 1935 ~ April 27, 2018

Albert “Gary” G. Hartenhoff, 82, Sioux Falls, died Friday, April 27, 2018, at his home.

A Celebration of Life for Gary will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018, 4:00 PM, at Monk’s, (420 E 8th St.) in Sioux Falls.

Grateful for having shared his life are his two children, Peggy (Tedd) Hartenhoff-Ronning, Oakdale, MN, and Susan (Dan) Haygood, Garretson, SD; six Grandchildren, Jesse Vahle, Lori Johnson, Thomas Fuller, Alex Presterone, Kari Haygood, and Garrett Haygood; seven Great-grandchildren; two siblings, Ted Hartenhoff and Janice Pruitt; and his former spouse, Anne Nelson, Phoenix, AZ.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Hattie (Dempbolfe) Hartenhoff; and two daughters, Kari Vahle and Elizabeth Wright.

September 26, 1928 ~ April 23, 2018

Steve Haas 89, Sioux Falls, died Monday, April 23, 2018, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Visitation will be 11am-1pm, Saturday, April 28, 2018, with a Memorial Service at 1pm, followed by Full Military honors at Heartland Funeral Home, Brandon.

The family requests memorials are made to the Marine Corp League or the Wounded Warrior program in lieu of flowers.

Stephen (Steve) Hopkins Haas was born in Owatonna, Minnesota on September 26, 1928, to Edmund and Helen (Dennis) Haas. Shortly after birth, his family moved to Sioux Falls where he graduated from Washington High School. He later attended Augustana College for a short time before joining the United States Marine Corps. Steve served during the Korean War. On July 17, 1949, Steve was united in marriage to Janice Bale, in Sioux Falls.

Once he completed his full-time service, Steve came back to serve the Marine Reserves and later joined the Air National Guard in South Dakota. Steve’s full-time occupation was in Business Administration where he worked for multiple businesses in Huron, Rapid City, and eventually back to his hometown of Sioux Falls. Steve became the Business Administrator for First Baptist Church in Sioux Falls and later worked as an Administrator for a nursing home. Upon his retirement, Steve worked at various part-time positions, including bus driver for School Bus Incorporated.

Steve was very fond of his family. He especially enjoyed Sunday dinners with his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. He loved attending all of their different school functions and events. His second passion was NASCAR. He was a tried-and-true member of the Earnhardt Nation.

Steve was a member of the Marine Corps League and First Baptist Church in Sioux Falls.

Steve will be greatly missed by his children, Craig Haas, Davenport, IA, Robin (Doug) Brandhagen, and Nancy Lind, both of Sioux Falls; and one son-in-law, Steven Sharpe; Steve’s pride & joy were his 12 grandchildren, Lisa (Mark) McGuire, Patrick (Brooke) Brandhagen, Cory Brandhagen, Jon (Debra) Laughlin, Jason (Cassie) Krueger, Stephen (Kate) Lind, Amy (Travis) Meyers, Ian (Nicky) Haas, Hannah Haas, Paul Sharpe and Jackie (Kirk) Beller, and Aeri Miller. Deeply missing their great-grandpa will be Arin & Jarrett McGuire, Corbin & Brock Krueger, Kimberlie Kluesner, Gavin & Malena Laughlin, Brayden Theim, Callie Brandhagen, Shyla Lottman, Cameron Lind, Chloe and Blake Lind, Shaquille, Sandan, and Chandler Sharp, and Owen Beller; and many nieces, nephews & cousins.

Steve was preceded in death by wife of 68 years, Janice; his parents, one daughter, Stephany Sharpe; one granddaughter, Jamie Brandhagen; one great-granddaughter, Kirsten Lind; his brother, Ted Haas; and one sister, Elizabeth Moger.

June 6, 1951 ~ April 21, 2018

Don E. Flemming, 66, Brandon, died Saturday, April 21, 2018, at his home, from recent illnesses.

Visitation will be 5-6:30pm, Monday, April 23, 2018, with family present at Risen Savior Catholic Church, Brandon. A Rosary Service will begin at 6:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am, Tuesday, April 23. Burial at Esterly, SD, will be at a later date.

Donald Eugene Flemming was born June 6, 1951, to Edward and Agnes (Downing) Flemming, and raised in Florence, South Dakota. He graduated from the Florence High School before going on to barber school.

Don married Juanita Koppinger on August 6, 1983, at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux Falls. To this union, the couple had two boys. Don worked for several years as a barber, also at John Morrell’s in water treatment, he was a truck driver for several years, and then at HyVee. He had recently retired.

Don had a love for the outdoors and a passion for hunting and his hunting dogs. He also was known as a very friendly and talkative person. Don enjoyed conversations with everyone. He also loved to garden. He also enjoyed playing cards.

Don was a member of Risen Savior Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Don is survived by his two boys, Ryan and Jesse Flemming, both of Sioux Falls; one brother, James (Susan) Flemming, Sioux Falls, and one sister, Rita Raiter, Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Leo Flemming.

March 14, 1932 ~ April 21, 2018

Ferd Haberman, 86, Brandon, died Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the Sanford Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

Visitation with family present will be 5-7PM, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Brandon Lutheran Church. Funeral services will begin at 10:30AM, Wednesday, April 25, at Brandon Lutheran Church with Full Military Honors. Interment will follow at Memorial Gardens, Worthington, MN.

Ferdinand (Ferd) Risuis Haberman, son of Frank and Margreta (Ebbinga) Haberman, was born on March 14, 1932 in Slayton, MN. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Avoca, MN and attended country school until 1944. Ferd moved off the family farm and completed 7th and 8th grades at Avoca Public School. He then continued his education in Slayton, graduating from high school in 1950.

Ferd worked construction and for various farmers during the summer months and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951. He served in Strategic Air Command as a jet engine diagnostic technician. Ferd served two tours of duty in the Far East during the Korean War and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. During high school, he was an accomplished Golden Gloves boxer and continued boxing throughout his time in the service. Ferd was honorably discharged in February 1956. He became engaged to Elaine Dierks in 1951, shortly after he was inducted into the Air Force. They were united in marriage on July 5, 1953 while at home on military leave. Their first home was on Turner Air Force Base in Albany, GA. Their son, Irvin, was born in March, 1955 at the base hospital. After Ferd was discharged in 1956, they moved to Fulda, MN where they lived for 10 years. Their oldest daughter, Sharon, was born in October, 1964. They moved to Heron Lake, MN in 1967 where their youngest child, Kristine, was born in February, 1970. They moved to Brandon, SD in February, 1976. While living in Fulda, Ferd worked for John Deere as a bookkeeper, repair and parts technician, and in sales. In Heron Lake, he managed Occidental (OXY) Chemical Company preparing crop plans as well as selling fertilizer and chemicals. Ferd finished his career selling agricultural equipment for Simonsen Industries until his retirement in 2007. Throughout his life, Ferd had a strong faith in Christ, was active in church, enjoyed playing golf, watching sports, playing his guitar, and woodworking. Along with his children and grandchildren, Ferd’s greatest love was his wife. He will always be remembered for his gentle spirit, kindness, love and devotion to family.

Ferd will be sincerely missed by his two daughters, Sharon Johansen, Brandon, and Kris (Jeff) Tietz, New Prague, MN; three grandchildren, Ava, Audrey and Cooper; one sister, Grace Peterson, Clear Lake, IA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ferd is preceded in death by his wife, one son and parents; sister, Margaret Haberman; half-brothers,
Raymond Haberman, Paul Krier, Herman Haberman; half-sisters, Paulina “Lena” Stumm and Elsie
Touhey; and son-in-law, Robert (BJ) Johansen.

July 9, 1958 ~ April 9, 2018

Donald Leroy Bennett was born July 9, 1958 in Brookings, SD, to Lyle and Joyce Bennett of Arlington, SD.

Don lived his early years in Arlington and then in New Ulm, MN, where he graduated from high school. He lived most of his adult life in Brookings, SD, later moving to the Sioux Falls area where he lived the last few years of his life.

Don lived with mental and physical challenges as a result of incurring spinal meningitis as an infant. Despite these challenges, Don was always a happy person. Friendly and outgoing, Don never met a person he didn’t like. Don had a variety of jobs over the years.

Sadly, Don died April 9, 2018 at the age of 59.

Don is survived by his brothers, Larry Bennett of McMinnville, OR, and John Bennett, Baker City, OR; nieces, Darcy Colton and Jennifer Teafatiller; nephews, Ty Bennett and Nick Bennett, all of Oregon; and many friends.

September 5, 1948 ~ April 4, 2018

Gladys Priscilla Johnson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota passed surrounded by her three children on April 4, 2018 at Sanford USD Medical Center from complications of pneumonia.

Funeral Services will be held on April 09, 2018, at One o’clock, at Heartland Funeral Home, Brandon, SD, with family present at Noon. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Gladys was born on September 05, 1948 in Le Mars, Iowa to Cornelius “Casey” and Ann (née Breevaart) De Groot, and grew up in Sioux Center, IA. She married Gregory Johnson on May 22, 1971 and they made their home in Sioux Falls, SD.

Gladys attended Sioux Center Christian School through 8th grade, and graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1966, earning high marks. During her youth, Gladys was involved in 4-H, was active in school plays, studied French, and played the flute. Like all De Groot children (and all grandchildren) Gladys worked in the family business, Casey’s Bakery, which was started by her father after his service in WWII. After high school, Gladys attended Nettleton College in Sioux Falls, SD where she completed her coursework in medical transcription two months ahead of her classmates with high marks. After completing her coursework, Gladys was employed by Dr. Ruben Samoni in Sioux Center, and then after relocating to Sioux Falls, employed by Dr. Robert “Bob” Van Demark Sr. for many years; her final position as a medical transcriptionist was at Family Practice Physicians. During her later years, Gladys worked part-time in retail.

Gladys enjoyed gardening and planted rose bushes and ferns wherever she lived; yellow roses were her favorite, and she also enjoyed houseplants, especially cacti of all varieties. Her children would often go to great lengths to bring home exotic varieties of cacti from their travels for her to enjoy. Gladys made excellent chocolate chip cookies, a gift likely inherited from her father, Casey. Gladys taught her children to knit and later made hats and scarves for her grandchildren. Gladys also loved music and enjoyed spiritual music the most, her favorite artist was Ernie Haase and Signature Sound; she was able to enjoy many of his concerts with her sisters in Sioux Falls. She very much enjoyed talking and corresponding with the many friends she cultivated over her life. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren playing and watching them grow.

Gladys had an easygoing way about her, and a compassionate dignity that put others at ease. Those left to cherish her memory include daughters, Heidi (née De Groot) Bolluyt (Corey) of Edgerton MN, Joy Johnson (fiancée ) of St. Paul, MN, and Mark (Meg) Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren include Justin and Clayton Bolluyt, and Claire and Hannah Johnson; her former husband, Gregory Johnson (Sioux Falls, SD); her sisters, Mary Swets (Sioux Center, IA), Velma Franken (Sioux Center, IA), Carol (Denny) De Jong (Sheldon, IA), Judy (Roy) Vander Meulen (Sioux Falls, SD), and brother, Ron (Kathy Tiemeyer) De Groot (Sioux Center, IA); cousins, many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Steven Franken (nephew), Delbert Swets (brother-in-law), Arnold Franken (brother-in-law), Doug Swets (nephew), and Megan Swets (great niece).

We thank the doctors and nurses at Sanford health during her final stay for the excellent care they provided, and for keeping her comfortable.