Dr. Eldon Albert Lenz Jr.
August 23, 1947- November 10, 2023
Dr. Eldon A. Lenz Jr., 76, Garretson, died Friday, November 10, 2023, at the Palisades Manor in Garretson.
Celebration of Life for Eldon will be 5-7pm, Friday, December 8, 2023, at Heartland Funeral Home, with a time of sharing beginning at 6:30pm.
Eldon Albert Lenz Jr. “Boopsie” “Boobs”, was born in Watertown, SD, he moved to Chester SD in 1958 where he finished his primary education, graduating in 1966. He then became a member of the Army National Guard from 1967-1972.
Eldon married his first wife, JoAnn (Miller) Dickinson, in August 1968. They lived in Sioux
Falls, and had two children. Eldon furthered his education with a B.S, M.Ed., at South Dakota State University, a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Counseling, and Writing a Dissertation: A Cognitive Psychological Group Therapy Approach to Counseling of Male Adolescents in a Residential Treatment Facility. He used his degree when working at Southeastern Mental Health Center, Custer Youth Forestry, and West River Behavioral Health. He provided counseling at West Central High School and taught graduate school at Indiana University Southeast. When living in southern Indiana, he met and married his second wife, Debra Spence, during the winter of 1994, where they lived on a hobby farm and raised three children.
Eldon’s time on earth was spent hunting, fixing cars, caring for animals, especially horses, going to the rodeos, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, and watching MMA fights. Nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his family and loved ones.
Eldon is survived by his five children, Chase Lenz, Amber (Robert) Spalding, Nadia (Kevin) Sweeten-Lewis, Lucas (Lauren) Sweeten, and Spence Lenz; his eleven grandchildren, Kyle (Rachel) Spalding, Tayler Lenz, Cierra (William) Hinks, Kiley Lenz, Alexander Spalding, Jayden Lenz, Maddox Lewis, Corbin Spalding, Payton Lenz, Shelby Spalding, and Novak Tisiga; his five great-grandchildren, Michael Spalding, Gabriel Spalding, Isaac Lenz, Piper Hinks, and Eli Spalding; and his two brothers, Donald Lenz, and Michael (Rosemary) Lenz.
Eldon is preceded in death by his parents, Eldon and Lila (Thompson) Lenz, and his sister, Sharon (Lenz) Ruiz.
My sympathy to Eldon’s family. Eldon graduated from Chester high school a year after I did. He was always kind and thoughtful. He had amazing accomplishments. May he Rest In Peace.
Dr Lenz was a kind compassionate man. He made a big impression on me in my youth. Rest in peace.
We love and miss you Papa Eldon. Until we meet again